Independent Latin American states became markets for British shipping, goods, finance, and influence, so London had little interest in restoring Spanish control. Britain possessed both the merchant fleet to reach those markets and the Royal Navy to deter attempts at recolonization. Half-pay officers also entered South American service, with Thomas Cochrane as the clearest example of naval expertise traveling through nominally private careers. Anglo-American language about free trade fit this alignment in peacetime, even though both powers readily accepted blockades and restrictions when war made those tools useful.
Notable Point · 27:17-30:00
Trade and half-pay officers extended British influence
Britain's merchant fleet, navy, and half-pay officers gave Latin American independence movements practical support while opening the region to British trade.