How A Royal Navy Prisoner Escaped Napoleonic France

Discover the true story of Charles Hare, the 19th-century midshipman who used a French officer's uniform to pull off a daring prison break.

Born on 28 September 1789, Charles Hare began his career in the Royal Navy aged 11. At the age of 13 his ship La Minerve was captured off the coast of France.

For six years he was held as a prisoner of war. In August 1809, he attempted a dramatic prison break. This uniform would be his disguise...

Discover the story with Dr Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art at Royal Museums Greenwich.