[sphinx]

500 men on a 50 metre ship in 1755? Surely they mean 50 men, right?

Nope, 500. The glories of the great Age of Sail. I'd guess this ship was heavily armed. Took a lot of men to man the guns. Sailors, sardines, same accommodations.

[Chuckster]

500 men on a 50 metre ship in 1755? Surely they mean 50 men, right?

Nope, 500. The glories of the great Age of Sail. I'd guess this ship was heavily armed. Took a lot of men to man the guns. Sailors, sardines, same accommodations.

Yup. Today it would be fifteen, or less, on a vessel that size. In those days, 500 wouldn't be far off the norm.