The Seven Years' War provides the baseline for Britain's later global command of the sea. The peace transferred or confirmed imperial positions across North America, the Caribbean, India, and Florida. Naval victories also frustrated threats closer to home, including Hawke's defeat of the French invasion fleet at Quiberon Bay. Earlier crises, including Byng's failure to relieve Minorca, belong to the period before that global position had been established. Investment in infrastructure, more regular fleet organisation, and the Western Squadron helped sustain that position.
Notable Point · 16:19-21:43
Why the Seven Years' War is the starting point
The Seven Years' War created the global position from which a later British loss of sea control could be meaningfully measured.