Talk:Powder monkey

Odd note

There is another meaning/usage of the term 'powder monkey'. Specifically, that in European naval history, as women were traditionally not allowed on military or pirate vessels, powder monkeys (also called barrel monkeys) were commonly used for purposes of 'entertainment'. A notable exception and example of the veracity of this would be the articles of the pirate ship Fortune, commanded by Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart). The sixth article specifically stated: "No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them." (source: Wikipedia/Bartholomew Roberts/Brazil and the Carribean) I believe that I first ran across a reference to this in the book The Golden Age of Piracy by Hugh F. Rankin (1969, Colonial Williamsburg), however, having no copy immediatly available I can't say for sure. Something to look into.--173.58.253.195 (talk) 00:40, 8 June 2012 (UTC)

My goal for editing this page is to write more about the history of the powder monkey. Answering questions like how they were integrated into being powder monkeys from such a young age? Why they were so young? And if women and older men were actually chosen for the job?

I think that the current page holds a good description of what powder monkeys did but more could be added about why they were so important. I would also like to make the point that it was mainly the British Royal Navy who used these powder monkeys. There are very few records of other navies using these powder monkeys during that time.

I would also like to see if I can write a nuanced story about a powder monkey from the words of Mike Estel. I think that writing a historically accurate story will greatly benefit people's understanding of what powder monkeys did.

Lstaub (talk) 22:03, 23 March 2018 (UTC)Louie Staub, undergraduate student at the George Washington University. I posted this for an assignment I have for a class.

Other sources for Powder Monkeys that may be used:

Rodger, N. A. M. The wooden world: an anatomy of the Georgian navy. London: Folio Society, 2009.

Nelson's Navy, Revised and Updated: The Ships, Men, and Organization, 1793-1815 1812 : the Navy's war / Daughan, George C.

Toward "the maritime war only": the question of naval mobilization, 1811-1812 / Kastor, Peter J

Powder monkeys : brave lads on the sea / Mike Estel. Ponies, patriots, and powder monkeys : a history of children in America's armed forces, 1776-1916 / Eleanor C. Bishop. Ships of oak, guns of iron : the War of 1812 and the forging of the American navy / Ronald D. Utt. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lstaub (talk • contribs) 04:21, 5 March 2018 (UTC)

Recommendation

The writing in this article could use a few sets of editing/ revising eyes. There's a few awkward sentences. Klownprince (talk) 12:01, 5 September 2019 (UTC)

Indeed. In one place, we have ‘in the late 1700s’ a current usage for persons flummoxed by the expression ‘the eighteenth century’, and in another, we see ‘the seventeenth century.’ Let us choose one usage or the other, and, this being Wikiland, doubtless it will favour the muddled millennials. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:8003:3020:1C00:E98F:16A0:7E99:85CF (talk) 07:11, 14 July 2023 (UTC)