The Marine Society
On 25 June 1756, following the outbreak of the Seven Years War, John Thornton joined his friend Jonas Hanway and some 22 interested parties in the King’s Arms Tavern in the City of London to discuss the effect that the war was likely to have on trading conditions. By the end of the evening, The Marine Society had been formed, with John Thornton as Treasurer.
Sponsorship for naval recruits was offered by The Marine Society “to all stout lads and boys, who incline to go on board his Majesty’s ships, with a view to learn the duty of a seaman, and are, upon examination, approved by the Marine Society, shall be handsomely clothed and provided with bedding, and their charges born down to the ports…” Ten men were duly clothed and delivered to ships of the Fleet. In this small way began the work of the Marine Society.
When the Society was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1772, the Earl of Romney became President. Following incorporation in Act of Parliament the Society commissioned in 1786 the first pre-sea training ship in the world, the 350 ton sloop Beatty and went on to provide sea training all the way up to the Second World War.
By 1763, the Society had recruited more than 10,000 men and boys, supplying 5% of the total intake during the seven year war. Early reports from commanding officers had indicated that the number of desertions might be reduced if boys equipped by the Society were given a period of training before being sent to sea. The Society thus became the first organisation in the world to pioneer nautical training for boys in its special school ship.
From 1756 to 1940 the Society recruited more than 110,000 men and boys for the Royal Navy, the East India Company and Merchant Service. Conscription during World War II meant that the Marine Society no longer had to continue with recruitment.
In 1919 the Seafarers Education Service was founded by Albert Mansbridge to provide British ships with a library of inspiring books. After ten years 400 Merchant Ships were carrying libraries.
The College of the Sea was formed in 1938 as an offshoot of the Seafarers Education Service and in 1939 it extended its remit to include the Royal Navy. The Marine Society merged with the Seafarers Education Service in 1976.
In 1987 The Marine Society purchased two Ministry of Defence vessels. These were the TS Jonas Hanway (returned to the Navy in 1998) and the TS Earl of Romney (decommissioned in December 2004) and subsequently sold in March 2005.