England
Explorers returned home with tattooed Polynesians to exhibit at fairs, in lecture halls and in dime museums, to demonstrate the height of European civilization compared to the 'primitive natives'. After captain Cook returned from his voyage to Polynesia tattooing became a tradition in the British navy. By the middle of the 18th century most British ports had at least one professional tattoo artist in residence. In 1862, the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII, received his first tattoo - a Jerusalem cross - on his arm. He started a tattoo fad among the aristocracy when he was tattooed before ascending to the throne. In 1882, his sons, the duke of Clarence and the duke of York were tattooed by the Japanese master tattooist, Horrid Chino.
France
In the 18th century, many French sailors returning from voyages in the south pacific had been tattooed. In 1861, French naval surgeon, Maurice birchen, published a study on the medical complications of tattooing. After this, the navy and army banned tattooing within their ranks.