Masters

Over the 85 years of the British Southern Whale Fishery more than 1,000 men served as Master on a British south seas whaleship.

Whaling Masters

Masters

Over the 85 years of the British Southern Whale Fishery more than 1000 men served as Master on a British south seas whaleship.  More than 80 lost their lives or died whilst in command.  Initially, the majority of Master’s came from Nantucket - at least 160 of them. Some arrived directly from Nantucket, others via Dartmouth in Nova Scotia.  Many Masters had long careers and were highly successful. Some even went on to share ownership or own their own whaleships, a development encouraged by some owners, who allowed their whaling captains to invest in the success of their own voyages.

Image: The Whaling Master William Tolley Brookes - Collection of the National Maritime Museum
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