Estimating levels of numeracy and literacy in the maritime sector of the North Atlantic in the late eighteenth century

This paper reconstructs comparative levels of numeracy and literacy for seamen of different ranks from 14 countries in the eighteenth century using the British Prize Papers. Results show how skill was rewarded in the maritime labour market, where captains show higher levels of numeracy and literacy than lesser officers and ordinary sailors. The levels of numeracy and literacy among ship masters and Scandinavian sailors are among the highest found anywhere, while Dutch, French and Spanish sailors were at par with the common labour force. This is discussed in light of the migratory and competitive character of the maritime sector.