The Foundations of British Maritime Ascendancy: Resources, Logistics and the State, 17551815 (Cambridge Military Histories)

British power and global expansion between 1755 and 1815 have mainly been attributed to the fiscal-military state and the achievements of the Royal navy at sea. Roger Morriss here sheds new light on the broader range of developments in the infrastructure of the state needed to extend British power at sea and overseas. He demonstrates how developments in culture, experience and control in central government affected the supply of ships, manpower, food, transport and ordnance as well as the support of the army, permitting the maintenance of armed forces of unprecedented size and their projection to distant stations. He reveals how the British state, although dependent on the private sector, built a partnership with it based on trust, ethics and the law. This book argues that Britain's military bureaucracy, traditionally regarded as inferior to the fighting services, was in fact the keystone of the nation's maritime ascendancy. --Résumé de l'éditeur Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 List of tables......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Glossary of British weights, measures, casks and money values......Page 15 List of abbreviations......Page 17 Introduction......Page 20 The British state......Page 26 Bureaucratic organisation and expertise......Page 33 Resources and state policies......Page 39 State law and public policy......Page 43 The direction and projection of the state......Page 46 The shaping of Britain's defence policy......Page 52 The making of state policy......Page 60 The defence of the British Isles......Page 65 The offensive overseas......Page 73 The growth in scale and distance......Page 80 The global deployment of British forces......Page 86 The British maritime economy......Page 97 Credit finance and the National Debt......Page 108 State expenditure and naval contracts......Page 121 The bureaucratic control of expenditure......Page 132 The growth of public control......Page 139 The expansion of the British fleet......Page 150 The role of the Admiralty......Page 157 Navy Board responsibilities......Page 163 Dockyard operations and fleet performance......Page 167 The workforce and productivity......Page 179 The supply of materials......Page 189 The relocation of gun manufacture......Page 202 Ordnance Board responsibilities......Page 209 Quantity control for guns......Page 214 Quality control of guns......Page 220 The amplification of gun power......Page 225 Chemistry and gunpowder......Page 233 6 - Manpower and motivation......Page 242 The state's military manpower......Page 243 Recruitment to the naval service......Page 250 The efficiency of employment......Page 263 Discharges and the death rate......Page 270 Desertion and discontent......Page 277 Management and motivation......Page 282 The sources of foodstuffs......Page 290 The Victualling Board and its yards......Page 296 Systems of purchase......Page 304 Quantification and quality......Page 313 Distribution and delivery......Page 327 The early transport service......Page 340 Treasury, Navy, Victualling and Ordnance Board problems......Page 344 A Transport Board re-instituted......Page 354 The hire of shipping......Page 362 The service at the time of the War of 1812......Page 367 The mid-century infrastructure......Page 374 The Seven Years' War and the Treasury Commissariat......Page 377 The American War of Independence......Page 382 The French Revolutionary War......Page 390 Garrisons, expeditions and campaigns......Page 394 The Napoleonic War and the Commissariat......Page 400 The challenges of the Peninsula......Page 405 Conclusion......Page 415 Bibliography......Page 423 Index......Page 448 British Power And Global Expansion Between 1755 And 1815 Have Mainly Been Attributed To The Fiscal-military State And The Achievements Of The Royal Navy At Sea. Roger Morriss Here Sheds New Light On The Broader Range Of Developments In The Infrastructure Of The State Needed To Extend British Power At Sea And Overseas. He Demonstrates How Developments In Culture, Experience And Control In Central Government Affected The Supply Of Ships, Manpower, Food, Transport And Ordnance As Well As The Support Of The Army, Permitting The Maintenance And Projection Of Armed Forces Of Unprecedented Size To Distant Stations. He Reveals How The British State, Although Dependent On The Private Sector, Built A Partnership With It Based On Trust, Ethics And The Law. Traditionally Regarded As Inferior To The Fighting Services, This Book Argues That Britain's Military Bureaucracy Was In Fact The Keystone Of The Nation's Maritime Ascendancy-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Introduction; 1. The British State In Evolution; 2. Defence And Expansion; 3. Economy And Finance; 4. Naval Growth And Infrastructure; 5. Ordnance And Technology; 6. Manpower And Motivation; 7. Foodstuffs And Victualling; 8. Shipping And Transportation; 9. The Supply Of Land Forces Overseas; 10. Conclusion. Roger Morriss. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. British power and global expansion between 1755 and 1815 have mainly been attributed to the fiscal-military state and the achievements of the Royal navy at sea. Roger Morriss here sheds new light on the broader range of developments in the infrastructure of the state needed to extend British power at sea and overseas. He demonstrates how developments in culture, experience and control in central government affected the supply of ships, manpower, food, transport and ordnance as well as the support of the army, permitting the maintenance of armed forces of unprecedented size and their projection to distant stations. He reveals how the British state, although dependent on the private sector, built a partnership with it based on trust, ethics and the law. This book argues that Britain's military bureaucracy, traditionally regarded as inferior to the fighting services, was in fact the keystone of the nation's maritime ascendancy. --Résumé de l'éditeur "British power and global expansion between 1755 and 1815 have mainly been attributed to the fiscal-military state and the achievements of the Royal Navy at sea. Roger Morriss here sheds new light on the broader range of developments in the infrastructure of the state needed to extend British power at sea and overseas. He demonstrates how developments in culture, experience and control in central government affected the supply of ships, manpower, food, transport and ordnance as well as the support of the army, permitting the maintenance and projection of armed forces of unprecedented size to distant stations. He reveals how the British state, although dependent on the private sector, built a partnership with it based on trust, ethics and the law. Traditionally regarded as inferior to the fighting services, this book argues that Britain's military bureaucracy was in fact the keystone of the nation's maritime ascendancy"-- Provided by publisher Before 1815 Britain established a global empire, achieved naval domination, and laid the foundations of the first industrial revolution. This book explains the central and often underestimated role of the British state in providing the money and infrastructure to support its maritime ascendancy and develop expertise in overseas expansion. Explores the fundamental role of the British state in facilitating the nation's global expansion and ascendancy in the eighteenth century.--Résumé de l'éditeur