PRESS GANG  , the popular name for the companies of officers and men who were commissioned to execute the warrants for the impressment of seamen in Great Britain (see IMPRESSMENT) . These bodies consisted of a captain, one or more lieutenants, and a band of trustworthy men . They were sent to seaports, or occasionally to inland towns where sailors were likely to be met when going from one coast to another . A " rendezvous " was opened, volunteers were enlisted, deserters arrested, and such " able bodied persons " as were liable to be pressed for service in the fleet were seized, and sent to the guard ships (q.v.) .