Lascars

In the nineteenth century, the British Merchant Marine was transformed by the employment of 'Lascars', a term used for seamen predominately from Asia, as well as Africa and the Caribbean. On the outbreak of war in 1914, 30% of merchant crews were born abroad. The majority were lascars, who comprised 1 in 6 of these men.  

Lascars faced difficult working conditions and restrictions, lower pay and prejudice. They found it particularly challenging to find accommodation in British ports. For most of the nineteenth century, voluntary religious societies and missions were the mainstays of welfare, accommodation and support services for this extensive, vulnerable, multi-ethnic and multi-religious labour force.

This strand will provide new explorations into the lives of 'lascars', engaging with issues of race, gender, class and religion. Despite working in large numbers in British ports and seas, these seafarers have not always been visible in the historical record. Focusing on the port cities of Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London, we will examine archival records relating to Asian seamen and the institutions that interacted with them. This strand will assess how Asian seamen interacted with Christian missions, the impact these organisations had on these men's conditions, and the extent to which they challenged or entrenched racial and religious hierarchies in the maritime workforce.