Spithead has been strongly defended since 1864 by fortifications complementing those of Portsmouth.
Alan West, Baron West of Spithead | "Spithead", the 18th Century Bermudian home of Hezekiah Frith and 20th Century home of Eugene O'Neill | Spithead and Nore mutinies |
Calcutta then sailed alone to Port Jackson to take on a cargo of 800 tons of timber before sailing back to England via Cape Horn and Rio de Janeiro, arriving back at Spithead on 23 July 1804, completing a circumnavigation in ten months and three days.
Ramage and the Freebooters by British novelist Dudley Pope begins when Lieutenant Ramage is given command of a ship anchored at Spithead during the Mutiny, and must convince the crew to sail so that he may carry out his orders.