On this page I have set out the timeline (where it is given or can be established) for the various books set after 1819 which includes the period of transition to steam
For context actual historic events have been added below in italics.
| Year | Book | Series |
| 1820 | Gurney's Revenge (aka Sea Devil) | George le Fanu Gurney |
| 1825 | The Black Bloodhound | |
| Mathew Jelbert | The Continuing Voyages of HMS Surprise | |
| The Tears of Despair | The Continuing Voyages of HMS Surprise | |
| 1828 | Gurney's Release | George le Fanu Gurney |
| 1840 | Hornblower and the Journey Home | Hornblower's Legacy |
| 1842 | The Somers Mutiny | |
| 1843 | Ebb Tide | Nathaniel Drinkwater |
| 1847 | Killigrew R. N. | Kit Killigrew |
| 1848 | The Last Encounter | Horatio Hornblower |
| 1849 | Killigrew and the Golden Dragon | Kit Killigrew |
| 1850 | Killigrew and the Incorrigibles | Kit Killigrew |
| 1852 | Killigrew and the North-West Passage | Kit Killigrew |
| 1853 | The Valiant Sailors | Phillip Hazard |
| 1854 | Killigrew's Run | Kit Killigrew |
| The Brave Captains | Phillip Hazard | |
| Hazard's Command (Black Sea Frigate) | Phillip Hazard | |
| 1855 | Hazard to the Rescue (Hazard in Circassia) | Phillip Hazard |
| Victory at Sebastopol | Phillip Hazard | |
| 1861 | American Civil War starts | Kit Killigrew |
| Glory in the Name | Samuel Bowater | |
| Fire on the Waters | ||
| A Country of Our Own | ||
| Southern Seahawk | The Seahawk Trilogy | |
| Blockade Runner | ||
| 1862 | Thieves of Mercy | Samuel Bowater |
| That Anvil of Our Souls | ||
| Terry's Trials and Triumphs | ||
| 1863 | At the Edge of Honor | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1864 | Point of Honor | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| Honorable Mention | Honor (Peter Wake) | |
| 1865 | Woven With the Ship | |
| 1869 | A Dishonorable Few | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1873 | An Affair of Honor | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1879 | A Different Kind of Honor | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1883 | The Honored Dead | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1886 | The Darkest Shade of Honor | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1888 | Honor Bound | Honor (Peter Wake) |
| 1889 | Honors Rendered | Honor (Peter Wake) |