On this page I have set out the timeline, where it is given or can be established, for the various books set during the period from 1780 to 1799 (series in brackets)
For context actual historic events have been added below in italics.
1780
An Eye of the Fleet (Nathaniel Drinkwater)
The King's Coat (Alan Lewrie)
1781
The French Admiral (Alan Lewrie)
The Midshipman Prince (Sir Sidney Smith Nautical Adventure Series)
1782
To Glory we Steer (Richard Bolitho)
The King's Commission (Alan Lewrie)
1783
The King's Privateer (Alan Lewrie)
1784
Command a Kings Ship (Richard Bolitho)
Tested by Fate (The Nelson and Emma Trilogy)
Dockyard Dog (The Evan Ross Series)
1786
The Gun Ketch (Alan Lewrie)
HMS Expedient (HMS Expedient)
1787
Passage to Mutiny (Richard Bolitho)
First Fleet (Jack Vizzard)
1788
Port Royal (HMS Expedient)
The Steeple Rock (Nathaniel Drinkwater)
1789
Mutiny on the Bounty
Barbary Coast (HMS Expedient)
A Tainted Dawn (The Great War (1792-1815))
1790
The Hawk (HMS Expedient)
When Fortune Frowns (Edward Ballantyne)
1791
The Gathering Storm (HMS Expedient)
1792
With all Despatch (Richard Bolitho)
The Devils own Luck (The Privateersman Mysteries)
Mr Midshipman Fury (John Fury)
A Kings Cutter (Nathaniel Drinkwater)
The Pursuit (HMS Expedient)
1793
Form Line of Battle (Richard Bolitho)
Lieutenant Fury (John Fury)
By the Mast Divided (John Pearce)
A Shot rolling ship (John Pearce)
An Awkward Commission (John Pearce)
A Flag of Truce (John Pearce)
The Admirals' Game (John Pearce)
An Ill Wind (John Pearce)
Kydd (Thomas Kydd)
A Shred of Honour (George Markham)
HMS Cockerel (Alan Lewrie)
Fletcher's Fortune (Jacob Fletcher)
The Time of Terror (Nathan Peake)
Under Enemy Colours (Maritime adventures of Charles Hayden)
A Battle Won (Maritime adventures of Charles Hayden)
1794
Enemy in Sight (Richard Bolitho)
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Horatio Hornblower)
The Dying Trade (The Privateersman Mysteries)
Devil to Pay (Richard Delancey)
A Hanging Matter (The Privateersman Mysteries)
Artemis (Thomas Kydd)
Honour Redeemed (George Markham)
Honour be Damned (George Markham)
A King's Commander (Alan Lewrie)
The Antigallican (Jean Cotterell)
Fletcher's Glorious First of June (Jacob Fletcher)
The Tide of War (Nathan Peake)
1795
The Scent of Betrayal (The Privateersman Mysteries)
The Seagull and Le Corsair (Giles Courtenay)
Fletcher and the Mutineers (Jacob Fletcher)
1796
A Game of Bones (The Privateersman Mysteries)
The Jackass Frigate (Fighting Sail)
Jester's Fortune (Alan Lewrie)
Ramage (Lord Ramage)
The Hand of Destiny (Horatio Hornblower)
The Winds of Folly (Nathan Peake)
A Treacherous Coast (David Donachie)
HMS Hazard (John Pearce)
1797
The Flag Captain (Richard Bolitho)
Ramage & the Drum Beat (Lord Ramage)
Ramage & the Freebooters (Lord Ramage)
The Fireship (Richard Delancey)
Mutiny (Thomas Kydd)
Mutiny (aka HMS Defiant)
The Press Gang (George Abercrombie Fox)
King's Captain (Alan Lewrie)
Sea of Grey (Alan Lewrie)
Mr Fitton & the Black Legion (Michael Fitton)
Sails on the Horizon (Charles Edgemont)
The Mutiny Run (John Lawson)
True Colours (Fighting Sail)
1798
Quarterdeck (Thomas Kydd)
The Spoils of Conquest (Nathan Peake)
A Man of No Country (The Alexander Clay Series)
Signal Close Action (Richard Bolitho)
Governor Ramage R.N. (Lord Ramage)
Ramage's Prize (Lord Ramage)
A Brig of War (Nathaniel Drinkwater)
Tenacious (Thomas Kydd)
Prize Money (George Abercrombie Fox)
Havoc's Sword (Alan Lewrie)
Lieutenant Lamb (Matthew Lamb)
Any Approaching Enemy (Charles Edgemont )
The Temple (Sir Sidney Smith Nautical Adventure Series)
The Powder Monkey: A 1798 Story (Donal Long)
Amazon at the Nile (Giles Courtenay)
The Sailing Master (Coming of Age)
1799
Hornblower & the Widow McCool (Horatio Hornblower)
Touch & Go (Richard Delancey)
Siege (George Abercrombie Fox)
Treasure (George Abercrombie Fox)
Blood for Breakfast (George Abercrombie Fox)
Court Martial (George Abercrombie Fox)
Battle Smoke (George Abercrombie Fox)
The Captain's Vengeance )Alan Lewrie)
A King's Trade (Alan Lewrie)
A Sword for Mr Fitton (Michael Fitton)
No Quarter (Matty Graves)
Acre (Sir Sidney Smith Nautical Adventure Series)
Breaking the Line (The Nelson and Emma Trilogy)
A Sea Unto Itself (Charles Edgemont)
HMS Pegasus (Giles Courtenay)