The Mariner’s Mirror is the journal of the Society for Nautical Research. The Society was founded in 1910 to encourage research into matters relating to seafaring and shipbuilding in all ages among all nations, into the language and customs of the sea, and into other subjects of nautical interest. The journal has been published since 1911. It takes its name from Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer’s nautical chart book Spieghel der Zeevaerdt or ‘Mariner’s Mirror’, first published in 1584. The cover illustration is taken from the frontispiece of the English translation of 1588.
The Mariner’s Mirror is recognized as the international journal of record for maritime and naval history. It is ranked by the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) as an INT1 journal (the highest classification), which has internationally recognized scholarly significance with high visibility and influence among researchers in the various research domains in different countries and is regularly cited all over the world.
The Society has played a major role in promoting international scholarship in naval and maritime history and in preserving and promoting the maritime heritage of the UK. It ensured the survival of Nelson’s flagship by raising the Save the Victory Fund in 1922 and has been closely associated with her restoration ever since. It assisted the frigate Foudroyant (1817) in her role of youth training ship, helping to ensure her survival as Trincomalee, and supported the return of SS Great Britain (1843) from the Falkland Islands to Bristol. The Society was instrumental in founding the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich in 1937 and the Royal Naval Museum at Portsmouth in 1972. It continues to have close links with both institutions.
