Most of us have heard of the 21 gun salute.
Ceremonial Musket Salute by SAR Cincinnati
Where did this practice come from?
Doing a bit of research, I found a couple of probable roots, however not absolute.
Regardless, the 21 gun salute is a foundation at many patriotic events.
Sharing some findings from researching a couple of articles which discuss the origins.
Maybe you can pick from these to form your own belief.
Enjoy!
The practice of gun salutes has occurred for many many years dating to before the American Revolution. An interesting fact is that early combatants showed their peaceful intentions by discharging their slow to reload weapons to render them ineffective and non-threatening.
Couple of findings while reading a number of articles on the subject:
- Multiple of the number 7 – the number 7 was believed to have mystical or lucky properties. As a result, a battery of 7 shots was often used by ships upon entering harbor or approaching other ships to demonstrate peaceful intent.
- Shore Batteries commonly fired 3 shots for each shot from a ship due to the fact they had more and drier powder.
- By 1730, the Royal Navy was prescribing 21 guns for certain anniversary dates, although this was not mandatory as a salute to the Royal family until later in the eighteenth century.
- 1818 – the number of States in the US Union in 1818 – there were twenty one states in the Union when the United State Navy regulations in 1818 prescribed that when a President visited a ship that 21 gun salute was specified.
- 1842 – a twenty-one gun salute for the President and heads of state, Washington’s Birthday, and the Fourth of July became the standard in the United States Navy with the issuance of new regulations on 24 May 1842.
- An additional coincidental theory is that 1776 added together is 21.
These are a few of the “facts & findings” that I discovered. Trust me there are others!
Please share any additional details you find.
Thanks for reading!!
