Press Gangs

Press gangs were groups of men employed by the British Royal Navy in the 17th to 19th centuries to forcibly recruit individuals into naval service. These gangs would roam the streets and coastal areas looking for able-bodied men to serve on naval vessels, often using coercion, deception, or outright abduction to meet recruitment quotas. Press gangs were notorious for their harsh methods and were a source of resentment and fear among the civilian population.