author
Arthur E. Knights
A seasoned sea captain recounts daring voyages, shipwrecks, rescues, and life on the world’s great trade routes. His vivid memories offer a fascinating firsthand glimpse into nineteenth-century sailing and maritime adventure.
1 Audiobook
Notes by the way in a sailor's life
by Arthur E. Knights
About the author
Arthur E. Knights was a captain and lifelong sailor whose career took him across the oceans and along China’s rivers. He served as second officer of the tea clipper Northfleet, later commanded vessels including the Neimen and Royal Saxon, and worked in the maritime trade between Britain, China, Australia, and the United States.
Knights was also recognized for courage at sea. In 1858, while serving aboard the Northfleet, he led a boat crew that rescued the master and crew of the sinking brig Hebe during a gale. The British Government later presented him with a telescope in recognition of his gallantry.
In 1898, while living in Hong Kong, Knights began writing recollections for the China Mail. These stories became Notes by the Way in a Sailor’s Life, a lively collection of memories about long voyages, storms, shipwrecks, maritime work, and the people he encountered around the world.