When the Royal Navy arrested John Teede in 1799 on suspicion of taking part in the infamous Hermione mutiny, it carefully recorded the tattoos that covered his arms so he could be identified beyond doubt. More than two centuries later, that official description has become one of the richest surviving records of an eighteenth-century sailor’s tattoos. They reveal far more than what Teede looked like. His tattoos tell us about his faith, his working life at sea, the people he loved and how he wanted to be remembered. This remarkable document offers a rare glimpse into the personal world of an ordinary sailor—one that is almost impossible to recover from official records alone. It also shows an intriguing irony: the very tattoos that expressed Teede’s individuality also made him easier for the Navy to recognise, track down and prosecute. Through one extraordinary man, we gain a vivid insight into the lives, beliefs and identities of sailors in the age of fighting sail.
To read the full article Become A Member