In the tumultuous era of 17th-century England, Phineas Pett, a renowned shipwright, pens his extraordinary autobiography. From his humble beginnings as a ship's carpenter to his rise as Master Shipwright of the Royal Navy, Pett's firsthand account offers an unparalleled glimpse into the world of shipbuilding, naval warfare, and the intrigues of the Stuart court. Through his vivid prose, Pett recounts his triumphs and tribulations, shedding light on the technological advancements, political machinations, and personal struggles that shaped his life and the course of maritime history.

Phineas Pett was a Master Shipbuilder from one of England's greatest shipbuilding families of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and kept a journal of his experiences and thoughts at this important and turbulent time in the industry. Although some pages were damaged or lost, the diary was transcribed by Samuel Pepys and preserved in the British Library. It was edited and published in the form of an autobiography by William Gordon Perrin of The Council of the Navy Records Society in 1918.