Aggressive determination and equal accountability

N. A. M. Rodger describes a Royal Navy culture of aggressive determination that created a psychological advantage over opponents who expected British attack and defeat. George Byng embodied that tone by requesting more ships while training the force he already possessed, rather than describing his command as hopeless. John Byng's pessimistic dispatches left him without allies at court when the Menorca decision was judged. His accountability also had a rank dimension: if the law could execute a shocked junior officer such as Lieutenant Baker Phillips for surrender, an admiral with greater authority could not expect a lower standard. John had the weather gauge and a nearly equal force, yet fear of losses shaped tactics that prevented a close attempt at the mission. His promotion to admiral was dated the day before the engagement, before news of its outcome reached Britain, which explains why his trial and execution use that rank. The institution rewarded aggressive command, although aggression could not guarantee victory.