Naval, Shipping and Fisheries Exhibition

The Naval, Shipping and Fisheries Exhibition was a world's fair held in Earl's Court London in 1905.[1][2] It was intended to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar,[3] where a British fleet led by Admiral Nelson (who died in the battle) defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the Napoleonic Wars, to illustrate the marine power of Great Britain, and to provide demonstration of the British navy, mercantile marine, sea and river fishing, yachting, and more.[4]

The president of the exhibition was the lord mayor of London (then Charles Johnston) and the vice president Admiral Edmund Fremantle.[5][6]

The exhibition opened on 6 May 1905[7][8] and closed on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1905.[9][6]

Trafalgar related items included an item labelled as the quilt from Nelson's bed on board ship[10] and a "scenic interpretation" of the battle and death of Nelson.[3]

But in addition to Trafalgar commemoration, as the name suggests there were naval, shipping and fishery related exhibits.

Naval related exhibits included Captain Cook's chart rule[11] and his plane table[12][13]
Fishing displays included the opportunity to observe fishers mending nets and divers in a diving tank.
Shipping related exhibits included an eight foot model of the Empress Queen (which also appeared at the Glasgow and Franco-British fairs)[14] and a village of Amerindians in which war canoes were shown. More actively there was the opportunity to take a submarine trip.[3]

And, as in following Earl's Court exhibitions in the 1900s, there were amusement rides including a Hiram Maxim Captive flying machine[15] and a Shoot-the-Chutes.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ships of the Royal Navy at Trafalgar". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  2. ^ Findling, John E; Pelle, Kimberley D, eds. (31 January 2024). "Appendix D:Fairs Not Included". Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 426. ISBN 9780786434169.
  3. ^ a b c "1905 NAVAL". Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  4. ^ "NAVAL, SHIPPING, AND FISHERIES EXHIBITION". The Times. London, England. 2 August 1904. p. 10, col. 4. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via Newspapers.com. p. 10: It is now proposed to hold in 1905 an exhibition illustrating the fact that " Britannia Rules the Waves." It will be called "The Naval, Shipping and Fisheries Exhibition," and is intended to be representative of the naval and mercantile marine, sea and river fishing, yachting, &c. ... in 1905 will occur the first centenary of the battle of Trafalgar.
  5. ^ "NMA Collection Search Letter of thanks from London Exhibitions Ltd, 1905". Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  6. ^ a b "TRAFALGAR DAY AT EARL'S COURT". The Times. London, England. 16 October 1905. p. 8, col. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via Newspapers.com. p. 8: Admiral Sir E. R. Fremantle, vice-president of the Naval, Shipping, and Fisheries Exhibition, Earl's Court, writes to us as follows...: 'May I ask... to call attention to the celebration of the 21st inst. (Trafalgar Day) at the Earl's Court Naval, Shipping, and Fisheries Exhibition? The exhibition is being kept open until the 21st inst. in order to celebrate the day suitably,...'...
  7. ^ The Naval Shipping and Fisheries Exhibition Daily Programme. The London Exhibitions Limited, Earl's Court, S.W. p. 7. Retrieved 17 March 2026. p. 7: Opening day... SATURDAY, May 6th, 1905
  8. ^ "THE NAVAL EXHIBITION". The Graphic. London, England. 13 May 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via Newspapers.com. p. 3: Last Saturday the Lord Mayor formally opened the Naval, Shipping, and Fisheries Exhibition at Earl's Court.
  9. ^ "OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCES". Manchester Courier. England. 4 November 1905. p. 6, col. 4, para. 7/8. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via Newspapers.com. p. 6: Maritime charities will benefit to the extent of nearly two thousand seven hundred pounds by the Naval Shipping and Fisheries Exhibition, which closed its successful season at Earl's Court on Trafalgar Day.
  10. ^ "Valance - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections". Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  11. ^ "NMA Collections Search Exhibition loan receipt for Captain Cook's Chart Rule, 1905". Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Captain James Cook (1728-1779)". christies.com. Christie's. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  13. ^ "NMA - Collections search results". Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  14. ^ "The Ships - Manx Transport Heritage Museum - The Island's Smallest Museum". Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  15. ^ "The Flying Machine, Earl's Court from Prints-online: Beautiful posters, prints and merchandise with a historical theme". Retrieved 30 March 2012.
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