| From the time of Trafalgar to the start of the First World War the British Navy engaged in relatively few battles. It was the time when the Navy cruised the world, largely engaged in diplomatic activity, with occasional bouts of more robust diplomacy. In the same period the sailing ships of Nelson's time gradually gave way to steam power and the country's 'wooden walls' turned into steel, while the power and effectiveness of the battleships increased. During that time Edmund Heathcote worked his way through the Navy ranks to become a full Admiral. His career and the ships he served in traced his contact with the Navy for 125 years. | ||
| We were pricked into searching for events in the Admiral's personal history after finding his 'Evolution Book'. This small notebook was made from cut paper stitched together. The hand written entries are on nine pages only, between 26th January and 20th February 1847. The slope of the script suggests the writer was left handed. Each page of entries was signed E Heathcote, senior lieutenant. In essence the 'Evolution book' was a record of the progress made by the crew in the tasks for working the ship: hoisting the sails, reefing, loading and firing the guns. We know now from records in the Public Records Office that the ship was the 'Constance' and it was attached to the Royal Navy Pacific Squadron based in Valparaiso, Chile. |
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| Most Royal Navy information can be found at the Public Records Office, custodian of historical documents. The main PRO alphabetic index of all the navy personnel points to a page or two for each entry, listing the main events in the man's career. References ADM 196 36 page 608 and ADM 196 36 page 415 relate to Edmund Heathcote. From these and other documents, not necessarily in the PRO archives, a synopsis of Edmund's life can be built. | ||