Below are some resources I recommend if any of your ancestors in your family tree were Midshipmen.

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Description: Someone who was ranked a midshipman in the Royal Navy. The word derives from the area aboard a ship, amidships, either where the original rating worked on the ship, or where they were berthed. At the beginning of the 17th century a British Royal Navy midshipman was an apprentice officer who had previously served at least three years as a volunteer, officer's servant or able seaman, and was roughly equivalent to a present day petty officer in rank and responsibilities. After serving at least three years as a midshipman or master's mate, he was eligible to take the examination for lieutenant. Promotion to lieutenant was not automatic and many midshipmen took positions as master's mates for an increase in pay and responsibility aboard ship. Midshipmen in the Age of Sail came from various social backgrounds. Approximately 50 percent were the sons of professional men, which included the sons of naval officers, and there were notable sailing families throughout the Age of Sail, such as the Saumarez, Hood, and Parker families. The niceties of preferment and promotion made family connections an obvious advantage for prospective officers. The next largest group was the landed gentry, about 27 percent of officers. The numbers were smaller, but similarly, their connections gave them excellent prospects for promotion, and they had a considerable influence on the Royal Navy. The rest were from commercial or working class backgrounds, and because of the advantages possessed by the gentry and professional sailors, their chances at promotion to lieutenant were slim. Since most midshipmen were from the landed gentry or had family connections with sailing ships, many used their connections to have their names placed on a ship's books, thereby passing their three years service without having set foot aboard a vessel. Midshipmen were expected to work on the ship, but were also expected to learn navigation and seamanship. The work consisted of tasks normally assigned to seamen and to officers. They were expected to have learned already, as able seamen and volunteers, to rig sails; other duties included keeping watch, relaying messages between decks, supervising gun batteries, commanding small boats, and taking command of sub-division of the ship's company under one of the lieutenants. On smaller ships midshipmen were instructed by a senior master's mate, often a passed midshipman, who taught them mathematics, navigation, and sailing lore. Midshipmen were expected to keep detailed navigational logs, which were shown to the captain to assess their progress. See also: Sailor, Seaman, Mariner, Bargeman, Boatman, Ordinary Seaman, Admiral, Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral, Captain, Master, Able Seaman , Topman, Master Mariner, Master's Mate.

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