Admirals in court : discipline, honour and naval justice, 1778-1814 /John Morrow.

"This book explores the role that courts martial played in the professional lives of late Georgian flag officers. It examines the genesis, proceedings and outcomes of nine trials faced by British admirals in the American and French wars. In some cases, the British Admiralty Board instigated courts martial in response to allegations of cowardice, corruption or disobedience; in others, flag officers requested to be tried in the face of percieved mistreatment or criticism. Decisions to charge were invariably affected by the political context in which the Board operated as well as disciplinary considerations. For the admirals concerned, courts martial had significant implications foir their honour, professional reputations and subsequent careers. Their experiences are set in the context of the naval courts martial system and the charging and conviction rates of other naval personnel in the period. Drawing on a range of sources, from Admiralty records in the National Archives to official and personal papers and the press, this study sheds new light on prominent individuals' careers and on attitudes towards naval leadership at key moments in 18th and early 19th century history."--