McARTHUR, John.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

A Treatise of the Principles and Practice of Naval Courts-Martial, First edition of the standard work on naval courts martial. This copy has the bookplate of Philip Carteret on the front pastedown and the ownership inscription of his son, Philip Carteret Silvester, who entered the navy in the same year as this work's publication.Philip Carteret (1733-1796) was on the Dolphin for Byron's circumnavigation of the world and accompanied Wallis's expedition to discover the great southern continent as commander of the Swallow. He made a number of important discoveries, including Pitcairn Island, New Ireland, and St. George's Channel. McArthur (1755-1840) served as an Assistant Clerk on the North American Station during the War of Independence. He began work on a new signalling code for the Navy and, "In 1792, while secretary to Lord Hood, he brought out A Treatise of the Principles and Practice of Naval Courts-Martial ... It ran through many editions, and was long the standard work on the subject" (ODNB).

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