author

M. H. (Matthew Henry) Barker

1790–1846

A former sailor who turned life at sea into lively fiction, he wrote under the name "The Old Sailor" and became known for nautical tales shaped by real experience. His career also stretched into journalism and newspaper editing, giving his work a brisk, worldly edge.

1 Audiobook

Tough yarns, vol. 1 : A series of naval tales and sketches to please all hands, from the swabs on the shoulders down to the swabs in the head

Tough yarns, vol. 1 : A series of naval tales and sketches to please all hands, from the swabs on the shoulders down to the swabs in the head

by M. H. (Matthew Henry) Barker

About the author

Matthew Henry Barker was an English sailor, journalist, editor, and writer born in Deptford in 1790. He went to sea young, served first on an East Indiaman and then in the Royal Navy, and later drew heavily on that experience in the stories that made him known to readers.

He is best remembered for sea tales published under the pseudonym "The Old Sailor." Contemporary reference sources describe him as a popular writer of nautical fiction in his day, and his work was closely tied to the practical details and atmosphere of maritime life. He also worked in journalism, including as editor of the Nottingham and Newark Mercury, and was associated with the United Service Gazette.

Barker died in London on June 29, 1846. No suitable verified portrait image could be confirmed from the sources checked here, so none is included.