Hornby credited Nelson with the genius needed to free the Royal Navy from rigid inherited formations. Yet when Mahan expected Nelson to head Hornby's ranking of admirals, Hornby declined to place him first. His reason was that Nelson was too erratic, even if that erratic quality had sometimes been necessary. The judgment clarifies Hornby's own leadership standard: tactical flexibility had to remain joined to professional reliability and controlled risk.
Notable Point · 1:06:16-1:06:32
Hornby judged Nelson brilliant but too erratic
Hornby's refusal to rank Nelson first reveals a command ideal that valued adaptability without making unpredictability a virtue in itself.