Codrington's force was not merely a collection of hulls and gun totals. Junior and mid-ranking officers aboard the squadron later commanded major stations, entered politics, or rose to flag rank. Robert Lambert Baynes eventually commanded the Pacific Station and helped prevent the Pig War from becoming a larger Anglo-American conflict. Thomas Fellowes's long operational career and Henry Chetwynd-Talbot's promotion after carrying the victory dispatches show how battle service fed the Royal Navy's professional pipeline. The death of Walter Bathurst aboard Genoa also shows the personal cost of placing that concentrated experience into point-blank action.
Chapter · 1:26:18-1:37:07
The British squadron doubled as an officer proving ground
The order of battle reveals experienced captains and future senior leaders distributed through ships of the line, frigates, and small craft.