Sailors, Societies and Sectarianism: George Charles (‘Boatswain’) Smith and the Formation of the British and Foreign Sailor Society

Hilary M Carey

doi:10.1017/S0022046924000940

Sailors, Societies and Sectarianism: George Charles (‘Boatswain’) Smith and the Formation of the British and Foreign Sailor Society

Hilary M Carey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article examines the context for the establishment of the non-denominational Port of London Society, and the dissenting Bethel Union, which came together to form the British and Foreign Sailor Society in 1833. Making forensic use of the surviving archives as well as contemporary reports in regional and national newspapers, it challenges the traditional historiography which focuses on the charismatic, but disruptive, figure of George Charles (‘Boatswain’) Smith (1782–1863). It suggests that the cult of the founder is misplaced for Smith, and that marine religious charities flourished despite, rather than because of, his contribution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	600-624
Number of pages	25
Journal	Journal of Ecclesiastical History
Volume	76
Issue number	3
Early online date	16 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022046924000940
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 16 Apr 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

Keywords

religion
maritime history
George Charles Smith
British and Foreign Sailor Society
missions to seamen
merchant navy

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1017/S0022046924000940Licence: CC BY

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2 Citations
1 Article (Academic Journal)

Poor Jack to Pious sailor: Religious literature for British seamen, 1815-c.1850
Carey, H. M., 8 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Cultural and Social History. 22, 4, p. 485-504 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Open Access
1 Citation (Scopus)

1 Active

Mariners: Religion, Race and Empire in British Ports, 1801-1914
Carey, H. M. (Principal Investigator) & Mukherjee, S. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/22 → 30/06/26
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Sailors, Societies and Sectarianism: George Charles ({\textquoteleft}Boatswain{\textquoteright}) Smith and the Formation of the British and Foreign Sailor Society",

abstract = "This article examines the context for the establishment of the non-denominational Port of London Society, and the dissenting Bethel Union, which came together to form the British and Foreign Sailor Society in 1833. Making forensic use of the surviving archives as well as contemporary reports in regional and national newspapers, it challenges the traditional historiography which focuses on the charismatic, but disruptive, figure of George Charles ({\textquoteleft}Boatswain{\textquoteright}) Smith (1782–1863). It suggests that the cult of the founder is misplaced for Smith, and that marine religious charities flourished despite, rather than because of, his contribution.",

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AB - This article examines the context for the establishment of the non-denominational Port of London Society, and the dissenting Bethel Union, which came together to form the British and Foreign Sailor Society in 1833. Making forensic use of the surviving archives as well as contemporary reports in regional and national newspapers, it challenges the traditional historiography which focuses on the charismatic, but disruptive, figure of George Charles (‘Boatswain’) Smith (1782–1863). It suggests that the cult of the founder is misplaced for Smith, and that marine religious charities flourished despite, rather than because of, his contribution.

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KW - maritime history

KW - George Charles Smith

KW - British and Foreign Sailor Society

KW - missions to seamen

KW - merchant navy

U2 - 10.1017/S0022046924000940

DO - 10.1017/S0022046924000940

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IS - 3

ER -

Sailors, Societies and Sectarianism: George Charles (‘Boatswain’) Smith and the Formation of the British and Foreign Sailor Society

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Research output

Poor Jack to Pious sailor: Religious literature for British seamen, 1815-c.1850

Projects

Mariners: Religion, Race and Empire in British Ports, 1801-1914

Cite this