Who had the first aircraft carrier?

Which navy had the first aircraft carrier?

Clarke assigns the conversion and commissioning firsts to Britain and the first purpose-built order to Japan, distinguishing three definitions of the first carrier.

Clarke distinguishes early converted carriers from ships ordered and completed specifically as carriers. He credits the Royal Navy with the early conversions and Japan with the first purpose-built carrier order. His account then credits the Royal Navy with commissioning a purpose-built carrier first, attributing that result to its maritime infrastructure. The competing criteria are conversion, ordering, and commissioning.