Andy Gill
@andyfromwithin.bsky.social
Author, musician, actor and father currently doing MA Naval History. Love to talk about the Royal Navy in the Age of Sail and Exploration, and who was the best Mr. Darcy...Matthew Macfadyen, if you were wondering! π
Took me a while, but I finally got it! π
January 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Took me a while, but I finally got it! π
According to my dad, he actually said "kismet" π€¦
January 16, 2026 at 8:37 AM
According to my dad, he actually said "kismet" π€¦
That's brilliant! I'm stealing that π
January 16, 2026 at 8:26 AM
That's brilliant! I'm stealing that π
Loving the beard! π
January 16, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Loving the beard! π
ME: Nelson didn't wear an eye patch.
DAD: How do you know? Were you there?
ME: It doesn't appear in portraits, caricatures or statuary, nor is one mentioned in letters, diaries, newspapers, memoirs, ballads...
DAD: Were. You. There?
ME: No.
MY DAD: So you don't know.
ME: *Sigh*
#navalhistory
DAD: How do you know? Were you there?
ME: It doesn't appear in portraits, caricatures or statuary, nor is one mentioned in letters, diaries, newspapers, memoirs, ballads...
DAD: Were. You. There?
ME: No.
MY DAD: So you don't know.
ME: *Sigh*
#navalhistory
January 15, 2026 at 8:34 PM
ME: Nelson didn't wear an eye patch.
DAD: How do you know? Were you there?
ME: It doesn't appear in portraits, caricatures or statuary, nor is one mentioned in letters, diaries, newspapers, memoirs, ballads...
DAD: Were. You. There?
ME: No.
MY DAD: So you don't know.
ME: *Sigh*
#navalhistory
DAD: How do you know? Were you there?
ME: It doesn't appear in portraits, caricatures or statuary, nor is one mentioned in letters, diaries, newspapers, memoirs, ballads...
DAD: Were. You. There?
ME: No.
MY DAD: So you don't know.
ME: *Sigh*
#navalhistory
OTD in 1831, the weather was perfect for HMS Beagle to depart England and sail into history on her legendary second voyage. Unfortunately, much to Captain FitzRoy's chagrin, the crew were still drunk from the day before, so the opportunity was missed. The result? 134 lashes.
#navalhistory
#navalhistory
December 26, 2025 at 10:19 PM
OTD in 1831, the weather was perfect for HMS Beagle to depart England and sail into history on her legendary second voyage. Unfortunately, much to Captain FitzRoy's chagrin, the crew were still drunk from the day before, so the opportunity was missed. The result? 134 lashes.
#navalhistory
#navalhistory
Lethal Weapon too π
December 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Lethal Weapon too π
The FitzRoy letters are at Cambridge (Add.8853/1-52) & those from the Cambridge set/Darwin at the Darwin Correspondence Project online. Peacock asks Henslow to recommend a naturalist who "will be treated with every consideration" by FitzRoy; Henslow adds the word "companion" in his offer to Darwin.
December 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The FitzRoy letters are at Cambridge (Add.8853/1-52) & those from the Cambridge set/Darwin at the Darwin Correspondence Project online. Peacock asks Henslow to recommend a naturalist who "will be treated with every consideration" by FitzRoy; Henslow adds the word "companion" in his offer to Darwin.
To be fair, they're mostly historians of science rather than naval/maritime experts. Their focus is on how and when Darwin discovered evolution, so they rely on secondary sources and the same handful of letters to provide context for the Beagle expedition...the wrong context, as it happens!
December 22, 2025 at 9:14 PM
To be fair, they're mostly historians of science rather than naval/maritime experts. Their focus is on how and when Darwin discovered evolution, so they rely on secondary sources and the same handful of letters to provide context for the Beagle expedition...the wrong context, as it happens!
In 1968, FitzRoy's biographer suggested he might have sought a scientist who could ALSP provide companionship. By 1975 this had snowballed into the idea Darwin was specifically invited to be FitzRoy's friend, with his scientific endeavours a means of keeping him occupied while FitzRoy was busy.
December 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
In 1968, FitzRoy's biographer suggested he might have sought a scientist who could ALSP provide companionship. By 1975 this had snowballed into the idea Darwin was specifically invited to be FitzRoy's friend, with his scientific endeavours a means of keeping him occupied while FitzRoy was busy.
I also think they love the story. "Due to what happened to Stokes, FitzRoy brought an amateur scientist along as a friend, and by chance that led to the greatest discovery in the history of biology!" is better than "FitzRoy wanted a scientist aboard for what was, after all, a scientific expedition."
December 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I also think they love the story. "Due to what happened to Stokes, FitzRoy brought an amateur scientist along as a friend, and by chance that led to the greatest discovery in the history of biology!" is better than "FitzRoy wanted a scientist aboard for what was, after all, a scientific expedition."
It began with a FitzRoy biography in 1968 suggesting he sought a scientist who might also be a friend. This became a friend who might also do science & by 1975 was just "friend". With a couple of exceptions, historians haven't questioned it. The more they quoted each other, the more it became fact.
December 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It began with a FitzRoy biography in 1968 suggesting he sought a scientist who might also be a friend. This became a friend who might also do science & by 1975 was just "friend". With a couple of exceptions, historians haven't questioned it. The more they quoted each other, the more it became fact.
In summary, this theory does discredit to both men. It claims FitzRoy was so unstable that he needed an emotional-support Darwin, and that Darwin was invited aboard as a helpmeet rather than due to his scientific ability. This is entirely inaccurate and based on suppositon instead of evidence. END
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
In summary, this theory does discredit to both men. It claims FitzRoy was so unstable that he needed an emotional-support Darwin, and that Darwin was invited aboard as a helpmeet rather than due to his scientific ability. This is entirely inaccurate and based on suppositon instead of evidence. END
Upon returning home, FitzRoy immediately got married. The fact he hadn't mentioned his engagement to Darwin in five years suggests they weren't so intimate as supposed. He also told his sister how he'd missed the society of friends "I have suffered too much...it is not good for man to be alone." 11/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Upon returning home, FitzRoy immediately got married. The fact he hadn't mentioned his engagement to Darwin in five years suggests they weren't so intimate as supposed. He also told his sister how he'd missed the society of friends "I have suffered too much...it is not good for man to be alone." 11/
And Darwin's behaviour on the voyage was hardly that of a companion. He explored ashore for months at a time. FitzRoy spent much time with his "gentlemanly" clerk, whom he "liked very much". And it was his First Lieutenant Wickham, not Darwin, who got him through his "breakdown" in 1834. 10/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
And Darwin's behaviour on the voyage was hardly that of a companion. He explored ashore for months at a time. FitzRoy spent much time with his "gentlemanly" clerk, whom he "liked very much". And it was his First Lieutenant Wickham, not Darwin, who got him through his "breakdown" in 1834. 10/
The theory maintains FitzRoy met Darwin to assess his suitability for the role of companion. However, in his earlier letters FitzRoy revealed he struggled to get on with people and disliked many. Of course he would want to ensure he wasn't stuck with someone who'd annoy him! 9/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The theory maintains FitzRoy met Darwin to assess his suitability for the role of companion. However, in his earlier letters FitzRoy revealed he struggled to get on with people and disliked many. Of course he would want to ensure he wasn't stuck with someone who'd annoy him! 9/
But why offer to share his mess with this man if he wasn't seeking a friend? Because he could hardly invite a man of stature, a gentleman, and have that person mess with the crew. The offer of sharing meals was for their sake, not FitzRoy's. 8/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
But why offer to share his mess with this man if he wasn't seeking a friend? Because he could hardly invite a man of stature, a gentleman, and have that person mess with the crew. The offer of sharing meals was for their sake, not FitzRoy's. 8/
Nor does it make sense that FitzRoy would ask his superior officer, Captain Beaufort, to find him a friend. All the evidence from the Narratives and letters suggests he wanted a scientific gentleman, hence why Henslow and Jenyns initially thought of going before passing to Darwin. 7/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Nor does it make sense that FitzRoy would ask his superior officer, Captain Beaufort, to find him a friend. All the evidence from the Narratives and letters suggests he wanted a scientific gentleman, hence why Henslow and Jenyns initially thought of going before passing to Darwin. 7/
The theory claims FitzRoy really wanted a friend to eat with. While it's true that he wrote in 1823 that he missed having someone to talk, this was as a Midshipman eight years before Darwin's invitation. Furthermore, it is clear from Darwin's letters that FitzRoy barely spoke at dinner 6/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The theory claims FitzRoy really wanted a friend to eat with. While it's true that he wrote in 1823 that he missed having someone to talk, this was as a Midshipman eight years before Darwin's invitation. Furthermore, it is clear from Darwin's letters that FitzRoy barely spoke at dinner 6/
FitzRoy took command of a demoralised crew aboard Beagle, turned it into a happy ship, and for two years performed above and beyond expectations. He would have heard the stories of his predecessor's behaviour and known the "anxiety" story was untrue. He would not have feared Stokes' example. 5/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
FitzRoy took command of a demoralised crew aboard Beagle, turned it into a happy ship, and for two years performed above and beyond expectations. He would have heard the stories of his predecessor's behaviour and known the "anxiety" story was untrue. He would not have feared Stokes' example. 5/
The theory also posits FitzRoy was worried he might follow the fate of his predecessor, Pringle Stokes, who took his own life through the stress and anxiety of command. But contemporaries thought Stokes took his life because he was incompetent, abusive and afraid of bring exposed as incapable. 4/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The theory also posits FitzRoy was worried he might follow the fate of his predecessor, Pringle Stokes, who took his own life through the stress and anxiety of command. But contemporaries thought Stokes took his life because he was incompetent, abusive and afraid of bring exposed as incapable. 4/
And when FitzRoy heard of his maternal uncle's death in 1822, he wrote that Londonderry/Castlereagh's family would be distressed, but he was more concerned that it would affect his chance of promotion. As his mother died when he was 5, he was likely not close to his uncle. 3/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
And when FitzRoy heard of his maternal uncle's death in 1822, he wrote that Londonderry/Castlereagh's family would be distressed, but he was more concerned that it would affect his chance of promotion. As his mother died when he was 5, he was likely not close to his uncle. 3/
According to this idea, given the suicide of his uncle and his "hereditary disposition" towards depression, FitzRoy was worried his mental health would suffer on the upcoming voyage. Yet the "hereditary disposition" phrase comes from a Darwin letter three years into the voyage. 2/
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
According to this idea, given the suicide of his uncle and his "hereditary disposition" towards depression, FitzRoy was worried his mental health would suffer on the upcoming voyage. Yet the "hereditary disposition" phrase comes from a Darwin letter three years into the voyage. 2/
The current orthodoxy among historians is that FitzRoy invited Darwin aboard the Beagle to be his "companion", and the "naturalist" part was a secondary concern or even a cover story. The evidence for this? None. Speculation presented as fact.
In this thread I debunk this theory 1/12
#navalhistory
In this thread I debunk this theory 1/12
#navalhistory
December 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The current orthodoxy among historians is that FitzRoy invited Darwin aboard the Beagle to be his "companion", and the "naturalist" part was a secondary concern or even a cover story. The evidence for this? None. Speculation presented as fact.
In this thread I debunk this theory 1/12
#navalhistory
In this thread I debunk this theory 1/12
#navalhistory
Spent 8 hours in Cambridge transcribing 7000 words from 176 pages of Captain FitzRoy's letters to his sister. They provide a lot of insight into his psychology & whether Darwin really was invited aboard Beagle as a "companion" more than a scientist, but I've not seen them used before.
#navalhistory
#navalhistory
December 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Spent 8 hours in Cambridge transcribing 7000 words from 176 pages of Captain FitzRoy's letters to his sister. They provide a lot of insight into his psychology & whether Darwin really was invited aboard Beagle as a "companion" more than a scientist, but I've not seen them used before.
#navalhistory
#navalhistory