The Pen and Ink Sailor: Charles Middleton and the King's Navy, 1778-1813

Charles Middleton ruled the British naval shore establishment for a dozen years of war and peace. As Controller of the Navy, he animated the vital link between policymakers at Whitehall and commanders at sea. Over the course of Middleton's long life, Britain acquired control of most of India, lost most of North America, came into other imperial possessions, grew enormously in overseas trade, went far toward becoming the first industrial nation, and nearly came to an end of the last of the ancient series of Anglo-French wars. All these events had naval implications; some came about through direct application of naval force.