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Name
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The Douglas Impressment of 1811
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Description
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Lieutenant Hawkes of HMS Maria arrived at Douglas while the herring fleet was in port. Norris Moore, the High-Bailiff, asked his intentions. Hawkes assured him he did not intend to impress any fishermen or interfere with the fishery. The fishermen, on that assurance, continued their work. On the night of 17 August, Hawkes broke his word. The result was what forty-six years of accumulated grievance had been building toward — the fishermen fought back. It was the one time the Manx people responded to the machinery of extraction with significant physical resistance. The Admiralty's eventual reply described the fishermen's conduct as very improper. The men were eventually released. The terror of impressment continued.
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Active Period
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17 August 1811
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Type
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Impressment
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Source
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Admiralty records; manuscript research
