By 1815 the Royal Navy dominated the oceans of the world. Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805 and the dramatic sea-fights of the age of sail are all well known. What is less well known is the process by which the Royal Navy developed from small beginnings to achieve oceanic hegemony. Nor is the Royal Navy's influence upon Britain's political and economic history often understood.

This work draws together the latest research into naval history to present a concise picture of the navy, why it took the organisational form that it did, why it was able to outperform its rivals, what contribution it made to the political and economic development of the British state, and the legacy it left in terms of tradition and assumptions about British sea-power.

This book is not a list of battles or campaigns, nor is it intended primarily for the naval expert. It aims to show the general student of history how the Royal Navy, the largest and most complex organisation of its kind during this period, came into being.