The emergence of examinations for British shipmasters and mates, 1830-1850
This thesis is a study of the attempts made during the second quarter of the nineteenth century to establish licensing examinations for ships' officers in the British mercantile marine. The focus is upon analysing the various forces which obtained to determine the pattern and progress of the examination debate. This involved a thorough sifting and evaluation of evidence in support of the view that the emergence of a national system of compulsory examinations for British shipmasters and mates was a more complex process than has been hitherto argued. It considers in detail the events between 1830 - 1850 when increasing demands were made upon government to attend to the problem of British shipwrecks, a problem which was shown to be related to the incompetence of ships' officers. The thesis shows that the demands to establish standards of professional competency for shipmasters were rooted in precedents of examinations in the Royal Navy, the East India Company, foreign mercantile fleets, professional occupations ashore and in the universities. It analyses the constraints on government action such as the widespread dislike of state interference in private affairs, the intransigent opposition of many shipping interests,
Vasey, Thomas Watson Cornforth
History
The emergence of examinations for British shipmasters and mates, 1830-1850. This thesis is a study of the attempts made during the second quarter of the nineteenth century to establish licensing examinations for ships' officers in the British mercantile marine. The focus is upon analysing the various forces which obtained to determine the pattern and progress of the examination debate. This involved a thorough sifting and evaluation of evidence in support of the view that the emergence of a national system of compulsory examinations for British shipmasters and mates was a more complex process than has been hitherto argued. It considers in detail the events between 1830 - 1850 when increasing demands were made upon government to attend to the problem of British shipwrecks, a problem which was shown to be related to the incompetence of ships' officers. The thesis shows that the demands to establish standards of professional competency for shipmasters were rooted in precedents of examinations in the Royal Navy, the East India Company, foreign mercantile fleets, professional occupations ashore and in the universities. It analyses the constraints on government action such as the widespread dislike of state interference in private affairs, the intransigent opposition of many shipping interests,
emergence examination british study_attempt make establish licensing examination ship officer british mercantile marine focus_upon analyse various force obtain determine pattern progress examination debate involve thorough sift evaluation evidence_support view emergence national system compulsory examination british complex_process hitherto argue considers detail event increase_demand make upon government attend problem british shipwreck problem show related incompetence ship officer show demand establish standard professional competency root precedent examination royal_navy east_india_company foreign mercantile fleet professional occupation university analysis constraint government action widespread state interference private affair opposition many shipping interest