Robert Blake and the wider work of an admiral

Was Admiral Robert Blake better than Nelson?

Blake was outstanding for his period, but comparing him directly with Nelson misses the broader peacetime and institutional work expected of admirals.

Robert Blake does not surpass Nelson in this assessment, although he ranks very highly for his own era and compares more closely with St Vincent. Battle victories alone leave out much of an admiral's work. Peacetime administration, deterrence, and fleet management also matter. That broader standard favours Collingwood, whose record combined combat command with the less glamorous work of sustaining naval effectiveness.