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William Falconer's Marine Dictionary of 1769 enjoyed extraordinary success and was reprinted and revised on numerous occasions during the eighteenth century. It provided not just succinct definitions of maritime terminology but detailed data on many technical aspects of shipbuilding, fitting and armament, as well as the Royal Navy's administrative and operational practices. Age of sail enthusiasts have always been aware of the reference value of the work, especially the highly desirable fourth edition of 1815, which was revised and expanded by the naval historian and antiquarian William Burney. That edition is known as a prime source for technical details during the classic age of Nelson because of Burney's ability to get dimensions, tables and establishments actually used by the navy of his day. Originals of the 1815 edition are rare and fetch astronomical prices, but this high-quality reprint puts the treasure in the hands of those with an interest in history and the ships and navies of the great French wars.
