NICHOLAS COURTNEY - Gale Force 10

Few who hear the shipping forecast, with its familiar sequence of numbers denoting the expected force of the wind, know what lies behind the man who gave the world the Beaufort Scale, a system that has never been bettered or replaced, but Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort's enduring contribution to maritime science is just one part of his remarkable legacy.

In this richly detailed talk, bestselling author Nicholas Courtney brings to life the adventurous and accomplished career of Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774–1857). From a self-taught midshipman to Hydrographer to the Royal Navy, Beaufort's life was a meld of Hornblower and Longitude, from the daring exploits in the Napoleonic Wars to his passion for cartography. His impact extended far beyond his famous scale, influencing polar exploration, meteorology, and the voyages of the HMS Beagle that brought Charles Darwin to fame.

Drawing on Beaufort's personal letters, journals, and naval records, Courtney uncovers both the public and private life of a nineteenth-century hero whose contributions to science and exploration remain crucial to this day.