Non-British Press Gangs?

[Smile-n-Nod]

Were press gangs use mainly by the British, or did other navies also use press gangs?

[wefalck]

The armies all over Europe used gangs of 'recruiters', who worked like press gangs. So one should assume that the respective navies did so as well in times of need.

[Blue Ensign]

I think the Press was a  predominantly British  thing  particularly in the 18th /early 19th centuries.

 

Britain had a large empire, was mostly at war  from the late 18th c to the end of the Napoleonic era, and had a huge standing navy,  in constant need of crews. British sailors were rarely allowed shore leave.

 

By comparison the French Navy which spent a lot of time  blockaded in their ports even allowed crews to live ashore. 

 

I've not heard of foreign navies operating a 'press' but as Welfalk says Land army recruitment,  also in the British army, didn't pay too much attention to civil rights, promising long to potential recruits, and delivering a very different reality.

 

B.E.

 

 

[allanyed]

We had something very similar in the US in the 20th century. 

 

We called it the draft, but it was pretty much the same thing sans the kidnapping part.

[Pirate]

but with the draft the men got to go home