Royal Naval Academy/College
A naval academy was opened at Portsmouth in 1733 to train young men for naval service. Correspondence relating to the academy is in ADM 1/3504-3521
and a nominal list of candidates and parents is available in the Open Reading Room. Details of scholars warranted to the academy from 1733 to 1756 are in ADM 6/427 and from 1806 to 1815 in ADM 6/185. A register of candidates for the college from 1811 to 1836, with index, is in ADM 11/53.
The college closed to young men in 1837 but it continued as a training college for senior officers. Lists of officers studying at the college between 1848 and 1885 can be found in ADM 11/73-78.
Naval Cadets
The Admiralty introduced the rank of naval cadet in 1843 for those training to become lieutenants. From 1857 all naval cadets were trained in special training ships: at first on HMS Illustrious and from 1859 on HMS Britannia, stationed at Haslar Creek, Portsmouth. In 1863 it moved to the river Dart at Dartmouth. Britannia was joined by the Hindustan in 1864.
New colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth replaced the ships in 1903. Osborne closed in 1921 and all cadets moved to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Lists of cadets on the Britannia can be found in ADM 11/82-84 for 1857 to 1876 and ADM 11/86 for 1875 to 1888. Exam results for 1877 to 1902 are in ADM 6/469-473. Lists of cadets at Dartmouth can be found in ADM 203/104-137 for 1931 to 1942, ADM 203/151-178 for 1946 to 1955 and ADM 203/179-191 for 1956 to 1964.
Officer Training
Lists of officers training on HMS Ariadne and Trafalgar can be found in ADM 11/84 for 1869 to 1872. Officers undertaking torpedo training on HMS Vernon from 1882 to 1890 are in ADM 29/127 and from 1894 to 1902 in ADM 11/79. Warrant officers training in 1896 are in ADM 29/130.
The records of officers qualifying in gunnery between 1833 and 1842 are to be found in ADM 6/60. Service records of gunners at HMS Excellent gunnery school from 1838 to 1898 are in ADM 196/167-170. Records of lieutenants passing gunnery exams are in ADM 13/98-100 for 1864 to 1866 and ADM 13/207-236 for 1868 to 1902.
Engineers studying at the Woolwich Steam Factory between 1848 and 1855 are listed in ADM 11/73. Engineer cadets´ examination results are in ADM 7/931 for 1899 to 1906.
Details of qualifications for surgeons and other medical staff at Haslar Hospital from 1844 to 1914 are in ADM 305/71-72.
