The battle portrayed was part of the
Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829, a war sparked by the
Greeks' struggle for independence and ensuing events. The Turkish
sultan became hostile to the
Russians due their participation in the
Battle of Navarino and, as a result, proceeded to close the
Dardanelles for Russian ships and revoked the
1826 Convention of Akkerman.
Mercury was a real ship (a 20-gun
brig) that was
laid down at
Sevastopol on 28 January 1819, and designed as a patrol ship to guard the
Northern Caucasus coast. Built of
Crimean oak, with a shallow draught and equipped with oars,
Mercury was
launched on 7 May 1820 and disassembled on 9 November 1857.
Mercury fought in several significant naval battles during its existence. One of the most notable of these battles involved a battle between
Mercury (which was, at the time, commanded by Lieutenant
Alexander Kazarsky) and two other brigs against a sizable complement of approximately 14 Turkish ships, who were returning from the shores of
Anatolia. Turkish victory was at first foreseeable, but the tides of battle changed, and
Mercury was able to escape after a final, powerful assault by the three brigs, ending the conflict. After the conflict had ended, one of the navigators of the Turkish ships made a comment commending
Mercury for her seaworthiness, and the captain for his bravery: ==References==