Model, of 18-gun brig

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A brig is a two-masted, square-rigged vessel. This wooden model represents an eighteen-gun brig from around 1804, at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It was built to a scale of 1:16 by Mr J Gray of Edinburgh.

The model is based on contemporary data of the 1800 period. The hull of a typical 18-gun brig is illustrated in 'Elements and Practice of Naval Architecture' by David Steel, published in 1805. The rigging of this model is based on information in 'The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor' by Darcy Lever, 1808.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), brigs were used both by the British and French navies. They served as auxiliaries to the main fleet, carrying messages between ships-of-the-line or performing other duties suitable to lightly-armed, fast vessels. Their construction left little headroom between decks and, as they carried a large complement of men, life on board must have been very uncomfortable.

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-232-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1952.L.9
• Date: Model: 20th century; Original: around 1804
  
• Material: Ship / warship / brig / model
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ship / warship / brig / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Sailing Ships (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where:
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• Description: Model of an eighteen-gun brig of the 1800 period, scale 1:32
  
• References:
  • Storer, J D. Ship Models in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh: A catalogue of models representing the history of shipping from 1500 BC to the present day. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, 1985, p 20. 
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