MEMOIRS OF RICHARD PARKER, THE MUTINEER; TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT AT LARGE OF HIS TRIAL BY COURT MARTIAL
London: George Cawthorn, British Library, No. 132, Strand, 1797. Fourth Edition. Octavo, [1]-20, *21-*24, 21-36 pages; VG; bound in 20th century black cloth, gilt titling to front cover; some mild toning and wear, primarily to first and last leaves; extremely scarce; RW consignment.
1354045
Special Collections - Downstairs
Price: $1,250 save 35% $812.50
NOTES
ESTC: N22031, showing two copies, a fourth edition at National Maritime Museum and a presumed first edition at Harvard, based on it lacking the first leaf of the introduction. The first edition was published in haste and that leaf failed to be added. At least 4 editions were put out in 1797.
Richard Parker (1767-1797) was an English sailor executed for his role as president of the so-called "Floating Republic", a naval mutiny in the Royal Navy which took place at the Nore between 12 May and 16 June 1797. Demands were made to the Admiralty, which mainly involved pardons, increased pay and modification of the Articles of War, eventually expanding to a demand that the King dissolve Parliament and make immediate peace with France. The mutiny rapidly fell apart, and Parker was quickly convicted of treason and piracy and hanged from the yardarm of Sandwich, the vessel where the mutiny had started.