In Part 5 of my series on "Jane Austen and the Wars", I made passing reference to "prize money" available to participants in the Battle of Trafalgar.

Her brother Francis had been part of Nelson's fleet off Cadiz. In lates September, his ship and several others were detached for provisions and water, and later to escort a convoy in the Meditteranean. They rejoined the fleet a few days after the Battle. Frank expressed bitter disappointment at loosing "all share in the glory of the day." At the time, I wondered how much "prize money" he might also have missed.

I was able to find some figures on the "ezboard" site: "Nelson and his Navy", where "EE" cites C.P. Addis, "The Men who fought with Nelson's HMS victory at Trafalgar". I matched some of them with information from a friend and fellow re-enactor who found in his library, David Howarth, "Trafalgar, The Nelson Touch."

Participants received money from two main sources. One was a £300,000 Government Grant to be distributed according to rank. The second was prize money (although it might more properly be "gun" or "head money"). A captain received:

Grant - £2,389/7/6
Prize - £973
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Total - £3,362/7/6

Others (Total):
Navy Lieutenants, Marine Capt., Masters, Physicians - £226/11/0
Marine Lieut. various warrent officers - £152/16/6
Midshipmen, marine sgts, cerain petty officers - £37
Seamen and others - £6/10/0

I remain,
Jason E.