Fisher, Beresford, and the battle for the Navy's future

In this reading of the portraits, Beresford's carefully arranged aristocratic appearance conveys confidence in his right to command, while Fisher appears more willing to question himself. Fisher could make serious mistakes but still recognized that the Navy had to change, and Beresford sometimes identified legitimate issues. The broader argument is that repeated protection from consequences encouraged Beresford to treat command as an entitlement. His deference to superior titles contrasted with his difficulty accepting officers whose authority rested on technical knowledge and experience.