The Gentlemanly Professions
What options did the younger sons of the gentry have when choosing a profession.
Continue reading →Tag Archives: commission
The Militia-A Different Breed of Officer
In Austen’s Pride and Prejudice we encounter a military regiment temporarily stationed in Meryton. These men are members of the militia, not the regular army (discussed in the last post.) While at first blush, there may seem little difference between the regular army (the Regulars) and the militia, the differences are striking and significant. What was the Militia? The militia served as a peace keeping force on home soil. History had taught that a … Continue reading →
An Officer and a Gentleman
In Jane Austen’s writing we encounter many military men: Colonel Brandon, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Captain and General Tilney, Lieutenants Wickham and Denny. In her tales we often read of how these men purchased their commissions, but what was the motivation for doing so and how did the process work? Being an officer made you a gentleman In the Regency era, social status was closely related to career and wealth. An Army officer or Navy officer … Continue reading →