FRENCH SAILORS, 1789–1830 — A Study of the Social Corps and Its Uniforms

Following Les uniformes des officiers de la marine, 1830–1940, published in 2011, and Équipages et fonctionnaires de la marine, corps et uniformes, 1830–1940, published in 2017, Admiral Éric Schérer takes us on a retrospective journey into the navy of the turbulent periods of the French Revolution, the Consulate, the Empire and the Restoration.

This book will reveal both the history of the social corps of French sailors from 1789 to 1830 — who lived through some of the most significant periods in the history of our nation — and the evolution of their uniforms, which adapted to the fashions of the day, to the political regime in power and to the use made of the navy by the executive.

The author focuses in particular on the emigration of naval officers up to 1793 and their return in 1814, on the militarisation of naval formations under the Empire, and on the creation of the first uniforms for ships' crews… Like his previous works, this thoroughly documented volume will serve as a scholarly reference, with all information cited and a majority of data drawn from primary sources: collections of regulatory texts, archives of the Service historique de la Défense and the Archives nationales.

This is also a very handsome volume, richly illustrated through the abundant use of iconographic collections from our finest museums, in particular the Musée national de la Marine.

Vice-Admiral ÉRIC SCHÉRER (2S) served in the submarine forces and on general staffs. His operational career did not prevent him from conducting extensive historical research into French sailors. This is his third work devoted to the men who carried the colours of their country high and far across every sea in the world.