Job Hartop

Who is Job Hartop?

Job Hartop was an English adventurer who enlisted as chief gunner on John Hawkins' third voyage to the Caribbean. He became stranded, was captured by the Spanish authorities and was used as a galley slave. A ship in which he was serving was subsequently captured and he returned to England.

As chief gunner, which would more normally be expressed as Master Gunner, he will have been responsible for the proficiency of guns' crews and for the maintenance of the ship's firearms, including small arms and for the stores required to supply them with powder, shot and ancillary equipment, as well as advising his superiors on gunnery matters, and supervising the training and firing of the guns.