“All the World’s a stage,

And all men and women merely players;

They have their exits and entrances,

And every man, in his time, plays many parts,..” 1

The story of Henry Hacking is one of a remarkable individual. He is best summed up by William Shakespeare’s character Jaques, in the play As You Like IT , Act II, Scene VII. If William Shakespeare knew Henry, I’m sure his Henry’s story would be one of his plays!

Henry Hacking’s ‘many parts’ are not only those whose life cycles from infancy to old age, but also the many roles he played in his long and extraordinary life. Being illiterate, Henry couldn’t tell his story in eloquent prose or seductive verse. We rely on official records and his contemporaries to inform us about his life and achievements. Being illiterate and innumerate meant Henry’s advancement in the Royal Navy was limited. Those skills were required to apply arithmetic, cartographic and recording skills to pass examinations for promotion. In the 18^th Century, the World was Henry’s ‘stage’. He had circumnavigated it and travelled to many places. Henry Hacking was a ‘common man’, or a ‘mere player’ of his time who played many parts. Throughout his long and interesting life he was; a son, husband, father, sailor, soldier, pilot, landowner, explorer and a criminal.