Augustus Keppel recognized early that copper sheathing could improve speed, availability, and maintenance across the fleet. Earlier adoption could therefore have improved Royal Navy readiness during the American War of Independence, including at the Chesapeake. Keppel's moralized, all-or-nothing style made it harder to persuade Lord Sandwich and fund an immediate fleet-wide change. Later adoption succeeded through trials and accumulated evidence, contrasting institutional persuasion with personal certainty.
Notable Point · 48:05-52:22
Keppel, naval politics, and the case for copper sheathing
Keppel made a sound case for coppering, but confrontational politics weakened his effort to secure the reform.