Fisher used shipboard entertainment as political work. The suggestion that the young women invited aboard reflected romantic pursuits is rejected, with Fisher described as loyal to his wife. Dinners, dancing, drinks, and cigars helped him build trust with ministers, ambassadors, their families, and young officers. He thought marriage gave young officers a broader understanding of British society and politics. By becoming a trusted friend to influential families, he gained avenues for seeking funds, defending policy, and responding to opponents within the Navy. Renown's cleared quarterdeck and yacht-like spaces made it easier to build those relationships.
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How Fisher turned shipboard entertainment into naval politics
Fisher used Renown's cleared quarterdeck for dancing and other entertainment that helped him build political relationships and improve visitors' impressions of the Royal Navy.