Duncan's steady advancement carried him from rear admiral in 1787 to command of the North Sea Fleet in 1795. His career lacked a single spectacular victory before 1797, but it included repeated service in major raids, sieges, and fleet actions. In this interpretation, the Navy placed risk-taking glory seekers abroad while reserving particularly dependable officers for fleets close to Britain, where a mistake could expose the country itself. Home-water command therefore reflected confidence in coordinated fleet behavior and an officer's ability to take risks without making avoidable errors.
Chapter · 56:28-59:33
Why the safe pair of hands received the North Sea Fleet
Steady service and peacetime commands made Duncan the kind of reliable officer the Royal Navy wanted guarding home waters.