Naval patronage built independent officers and long institutional lineages

Which admirals were best at coaching and bringing up other officers?

Maurice Suckling and the elder Admiral Byng are prominent examples, with Arleigh Burke and Ernest King also named. Effective patronage developed independent judgment compatible with a commander's outlook.

Maurice Suckling, Nelson's uncle and a captain rather than an admiral, is the first example of an effective mentor. The elder Admiral Byng, Arleigh Burke and Ernest King also receive favourable assessments. Effective patronage sought officers who could act independently when communication with their commander was impossible. A failed protégé damaged the patron's reputation, creating an incentive to recommend capable people. A talented officer could even be passed to another school of thought when that offered a better fit. Blind obedience would defeat the system's purpose as soon as the subordinate operated alone.