Bryan Barclay

Biography
Captains full name: Bryan Barclay

Rank Held in the squadron: Earl

Career: Naval Officer

Age of joining the Navy: 11

Current Age: 31

Reason for joining the RN: My father was a naval officer, killed in the line of duty aboard the HMS Glorious Revolution before I ever met him. My grandmother forced my mother to send me into the Navy in order to have a proper career and upbringing, like my father.

Sum up your captain’s personality and traits: I am steadfast, diligent, patient, and wholly dedicated to the King in my professional life. I continue to enjoy drink and socializing in my personal life, but only as a shadow of my younger years before I married.

Captains Quote: “Bear up lads. Tis’ to glory we steer.”

Your captains aims and goals: To serve King and Country while bringing honor to the Royal Navy.

Friends and Family
Benjamin Barclay is Captain Bryan Barclay's youngest brother. He grew up hearing stories of the depravity of midshipmen and young Lieutenants in the Royal Navy and found these stories disturbing. The thought of eating biscuit filled with weevils and dreaming of capturing "millers", otherwise known as rats from the hold that midshipmen eat for a dietary supplement, disturbed Benjamin deeply. Likewise, his brother Maxwell's antics left Benjamin cold. Hoping to never miss a meal, avoid sleepless nights on duty, and always have dry warm clothes at hand he chose to enter business. He still managed to be attracted to the New World by his eldest brother's tales, but he focuses on commerce.

Maxwell Barclay is the middle child in the Barclay family. He grew up chaffing under his eldest brother's sense of discipline. Rebellious in the extreme, Maxwell attempted a career in the British Navy with no success. After his second tour as a midshipmen ended in his Captain dismissing him at Gibraltar for gross deriliction of duty he decided that the Navy was not for him. He couldn't understand how maintaining a young woman for his personal pleasure in the cable tier and sneaking down for visits during his night time watch could possibly be unhealthy and detrimental to the ship. Maxwell has always been a bit rash and adventurous, thus the privateer life was for him.

Record of Achievement

 * December 1st 1720 - Promotion to Earl


 * November 1st 1720 - Military Cross presented for meritorious heroism in battle against another player.


 * September 1720 - Long service ribbon - Awarded on completion of 1 years meritorious service.


 * September 1720 - Admiral's Commendation - Awarded for continuing work on the wiki


 * August 1720 - Promotion to Viscount - For outstanding service to the squadron though the formation of the new Navy Board.


 * Febuary 1720 - Saint Christopher Medal - Awarded to those reporting for duty during the first week of official release.


 * December 1719 - Bar for Naval General Service Medal - Awarded for participation in PotBS Closed Beta.


 * Febuary 1719 - Naval General Service Medal - Awarded to SGS members during 3 year anniversary


 * Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - For 2 years service to the SGS.


 * Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - For 1 years service to the SGS.

Background Story
Born in 1689, I’ve served with the Royal Navy since the beginning of the eighteenth century. I’ve seen a few naval actions during my years in service to the King, but no powder or steel will ever compete with the carnage I experienced a cold day in October, 1707. I was a midshipman aboard the 4th rate HMS Romney commanded by Captain William Coney and home to 250 souls.

We were part of Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell’s squadron making our way back to Portsmouth from a long tour in the Mediterranean. I’ve relived these moments many times and recall them again here. I had just completed my watch, which had been uneventful. After lying-to near the mouth of the Channel for some time we had enough wind to get underway by nightfall. We were in line after the HMS Association. Behind us sailed the HMS Eagle and the rest of the squadron. It was a dark autumn night with a crisp bite to the air, but it was the wind that carried off the islands of home and it felt warm and welcoming regardless of its temperature. Just as I began to head below deck the lookout screamed an alert and as I turned the Association’s stern lights rose into the air and then dropped from sight. Turning to my left I saw the horrified face of the Lieutenant of the watch. Before I could react, my feet lost contact with the deck, my body arced through space, the rail passed below me, and the cold waters of the Channel engulfed me. I thought I was dead. Darkness and roaring surrounded me. I couldn’t breath. I flailed about wildly to grab hold of something, anything and hold on for my life. I grabbed hold to something, it brought me to the surface and I held on. Crashing waves, screams, and chaos surrounded me. Time passed and I began to shiver, my strength was failing me. The depths of the Channel were about to become my final home when I was pulled into a longboat.

Over 1500 men had lost their lives; the Association, Eagle, Romney, and a fireship had struck the Bishop and Clerks Rocks off the Scilly Isles. Our navigation had been in error with more disastrous results than all the broadsides I have ever seen fired against the Royal Navy. As much damage as our enemies may pose, the sea itself will always be the greatest threat to the navy and always should be treated with the respect it deserves. Courage and heroism, although required in a naval officer, should always be secondary to excellence in navigation and seamanship, the backbone of His Majesty’s Navy.