The Admiralty divided responsibility among Sea Lords with distinct departmental duties. The First Sea Lord's operational responsibilities and the Second Sea Lord's personnel responsibilities illustrate that separation. Senior rank did not give the First Sea Lord an unrestricted mandate to direct every other department. Within the board, the position was first among equals, convening discussion about what the institution should do. That division of authority developed over centuries.
Notable Point · 3:01:29-3:02:38
The Sea Lords' responsibilities and the Admiralty board
Separate departmental responsibilities limited the First Sea Lord's authority over colleagues on the Admiralty board.