Rodney entered the Navy in 1732 as one of the last King's Letter Boys. He served in Sunderland and Dreadnought under Captain Henry Medley, gaining experience in fourth-rate ships. Medley came from a similarly modest background and demonstrated how an officer could keep a career moving during peace, when inactive naval officers sometimes had to seek work ashore. His example gave Rodney practical instruction in sea service and in building the relationships needed for continued employment. This early mentorship joined professional education to the patronage that shaped an eighteenth-century naval career.
Chapter · 26:25-29:10
Rodney enters the Navy under Henry Medley
Early service under Henry Medley taught Rodney both fourth-rate seamanship and the relationships needed to sustain a naval career during peace.