An unsigned appointment memorandum suggests that Amazon was not Quilliam's original destination. HMS Neptune, his earlier ship under Erasmus Gower, appears to have been the initial commission, so Gower's patronage may again have helped his career. The book argues that an experienced frigate officer was too useful to place in a line-of-battle ship at this stage of the war. Riou urgently needed a reliable lieutenant after several unsuccessful appointments, and Amazon matched Quilliam's skills to an operational requirement.
Notable Point · 11:17-11:48
Why Quilliam was placed in Amazon
Quilliam may first have been intended for HMS Neptune, but his frigate experience and Riou's need for a capable lieutenant made Amazon the better professional fit.