History of the Edinburgh Royal Navy Club

Very little definitive information is available about the origins of the Edinburgh Royal Navy Club; however, it is known that it’s members first dined together in the New Club, Edinburgh on 14 th November 1821. Earlier that year (on 20th March*) it seems that a “Clerk” was appointed, from amongst interested officers, to oversee the
administration of the Club. The said Clerk proceeded to procure a ‘Box’ to contain the books of the Club; one of these books being a record of expenses. We still have the record of the expenses incurred in 1821 and we still have the box! It is recorded in the expenses book that, on the evening of 14th November 1821, 27 Officers dined
at a total cost of £13 19s and 6d. Incidentally, the front of the ‘expence book’ (yes – spelt with a ‘c’) is embossed in gold with “New Naval Club” – it is not known when the Club was first designated as the Edinburgh Royal Navy Club of 1821.

So why was the Club formed and what was it for? Unfortunately the reasons were not recorded but we can speculate – as follows:

During the wars against the French at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, the Royal Navy reached a peak of tonnage and serving personnel. Precise numbers are not known but it was likely that upwards of 100,000 men served in ships of the line with 60 guns or more – and many, many more in smaller vessels. This was out of a British population of 17 million (at the time) and a high proportion of the naval manpower was of Scottish origin.

On October 21st, 1805, Admiral Nelson defeated the French fleet (under Admiral Villeneuve) at Trafalgar. This victory effectively gave the Royal Navy total command of the seas and enabled the British Fleet to blockade French Ports and consequently to supply, unopposed, the Duke of Wellington’s army in France. The French wars ended with the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo in 1815; but it is important to remember that without British maritime superiority such a victory might not have been possible.

The French wars had been incredibly expensive – and amongst many things they gave rise to the introduction of income tax. It was necessary for the country to reduce costs and so, post 1815, there began a significant reduction in forces. From 1815 onwards, many officers and men were ‘laid off’ and they returned home; and  for many this was after a near lifetime of warfare. By 1835, 58 ships of the line had been laid up and just 22 remained in commission.

A number of those retired naval officers, who lived in or around Edinburgh, felt the need to keep in touch with their former colleagues for social purposes and so the ‘Club’ was formed. At first the Club was restricted to  Officers above the rank of Lieutenant; which effectively meant those who had commanded ships at sea. As can

be seen from the developing rules of the Club (which are listed on this website) the criteria were extended as the years went by.

The Club has dined every year since 1821 with the exception of during the first and second world wars and also in 2020 because of Covid 19 pandemic restrictions. We have all the accounts since 1821, we have the members lists and various other bits and pieces including a variety of dinner menus – they are in the custody of the secretary (and he would be happy to let any member see them should they wish). Meanwhile, the traditions of the Club are upheld to this day with an Annual Dinner in November.

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*It states at the head of the regulations that the Club was instituted on 14 th March 1821 but it is difficult to verify that date absolutely. The first written evidence of the Club is an entry in the 'Expence Book' on 20 th March 1821 for the sum of 10 shillings – to the Clerk for writing! Followed by an entry on 16 th April 1821 for the purchase of
a box to contain the Books of Club – 16 shillings. It is reasonable to suppose that the club was formed prior to those entries and thus 14 th March is very credible.

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The photograph below shows the opening page of the 'Expences Book'.  It shows a breakdown of the cost of the first annual dinner on 14th November 1821 a paragraph. 

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