Were Royal Navy officers mostly noble?

Were Royal Navy officers mostly nobles?

Most officers came from solid middle-class and merchant backgrounds, with examination requirements limiting the value of noble birth alone.

Naval service exposed young officers to disease, dangerous weather and enemy action, making it an unattractive option for many noble families before the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Most officers in this account came from middle-class and merchant backgrounds. Nelson and Jervis gained noble titles through service rather than beginning life as nobles. Passing for lieutenant required the unanimous approval of three examining captains, so a family also faced the embarrassment of a son who could not qualify. Nelson's uncle arranged experience aboard a merchant ship and later sat on his examination board. Fellow examiners reportedly considered the standard he applied to Nelson more demanding than that applied to other candidates. Family connections could provide practical training and close scrutiny alongside access to naval employment.