Duncan's decision to seek out Admiral de Winter's flagship is presented as a possible attempt to board and confront the Dutch commander personally. The suggestion is explicitly uncertain, though stories about Duncan's handling of mutineers and his conduct in earlier fighting make it plausible within the discussion. His established reputation is the firmer point: he was tall, powerful, pragmatic, and known as a ferocious combatant. That character sketch helps explain why his fleet tactics at Camperdown were so aggressive.
Notable Point · 5:46-6:49
Duncan's reputation for personal combat
Duncan's pursuit of the Dutch flagship becomes a portrait of an eighteenth-century admiral whose physical presence and boarding reputation reinforced his aggressive command style.