page_title: Oscar Parkes
section_title: Early life
hierarchical_section_title: Oscar Parkes / Early life
caption_attribution_description: English: Chromolithograph by Armstrong &amp; Company, after a watercolor by Fred S. Cozzens, published in "Our Navy -- Its Growth and Achievements", 1897. It depicts Baltimore departing New York harbor to carry the remains of John Ericsson to his native Sweden, in August 1890. At left, flying the Swedish flag at her forepeak and firing a salute, is USS Boston.
context_page_description: Oscar Parkes OBE was a Royal Navy surgeon, naval historian, marine artist, and editor of Jane's Fighting Ships from 1918 to 1935. He was an associate of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. The Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum have permanent collections of his artwork. His book British Battleships: "Warrior", 1860 to "Vanguard", 1950. A History of Design, Construction and Armament is regarded as a definitive source.
context_section_description: Parkes was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, England on October 18, 1885, and was the son of physician, W. E. Parkes. He was educated at Rydal Mount, Colwyn Bay, and Berkhamsted, and Parkes attended the University of Birmingham, graduating M.B., Ch.B. in 1914. As a boy, he became fascinated by warships from all nations, particularly with their design and appearance. At the age of four, a picture of the American cruiser Baltimore on a biscuit tin sparked his imagination. In 1900, when he was 15 years old, Parkes first met Fred Jane, of Jane's Fighting Ships, and kept regular contact with him exchanging drawings and technical information till Jane's death in 1916.
caption: Parkes' inspiration, USS Baltimore (right) by Fred S. Cozzens
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