British national and patriotic identities in the army officer corps, 1793–1815

Abstract

The relationship between serving in the officer corps during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and identification with the British nation has received little attention from historians. This article examines this relationship, and argues that military service in this period consolidated a ‘British’ national identity within the officer corps, particularly through adherence to the values of politeness and honour. Importantly, this article argues that officers’ patriotic expression evolved during this period. During the seventeen‐nineties, officers equated loyalism with patriotism. Napoleon’s ascent changed this dynamic, as officers incorporated critiques of the government into their patriotic expression during the early to mid eighteen‐hundreds.