A study of the influence of the internal politics of the Royal Navy on the conduct of the war against the French Republic

Abstract Contrary to the myth of invincibility which frequently enshrouds the history of the Royal Navy, there was no particular reason to cause an observer to predict a British victory in the War against the French Republic. At the outbreak of the war, England had a smaller navy than France. In addition, France had won the most recent war between the two countries. Finally, France was obviously a larger, stronger, more populous country than England. Yet England won all the naval battles. This is due in part ot the weaknesses of the French navy caused by the French Revolution. But more important, it is due to the officers of the British navy.