David O'Neil

Glory David O'Neil

A ship of my own? Me a captain? More likely still a slave, These thoughts ran through the mind of Jonathon Hope, a galley slave on a Spanish ship who along with Midshipman Andrew Fox-Gilbert led an escape attempt from their captors. The entire crew of galley slaves followed the two young men in their break for freedom.

They recovered a captured cutter from the harbour at Ajaccio, and sailed to Gibraltar taking a damaged galley as a prize on their way.

This began the saga of HMS Gloire, (Glory - a captured French Corvette) the story of Jonathon Hope and his rise to command Glory as she ranges in battle from the Baltic to the Caribbean, and the American continent. Accompanied by his crew culled from the men he led in the escape and a number of female espionage agents, the story of Glory highlights the sea warfare of the era from 1750 to 1800.