The 16th century paved the way for the East India Company, which would become one of the most notorious organisations in history.
It was a hotbed of naval exploration. The oceans belonged to Portugal and Spain as they blazed trails through uncharted seas. Such was their dominance that they agreed to split the world in half with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
Trinity House is one of the UK’s oldest maritime charities. Henry VIII granted the organisation a Royal Charter in 1514 (often cited as 1513 due to the old calendar system). From its earliest days, it has focused on improving the safety of shipping and supporting the welfare of seafarers.
If you’re a keen sailor, you’ll know all about the Shipping Forecast. But do you know how it came into being? Its origins are steeped in a dramatic maritime story, one of gold, misfortune, and shipwreck, that helped shape modern weather forecasting.