My research explores the changing nature of Britain’s socio-political and imperial system by asking why Britain became the world’s foremost naval power.  By reintegrating broader political and social histories, my work shows that the creation of a dominant navy was neither inevitable nor consensual: it was the outcome of fierce debates over the shape of the empire and the bonds of political authority.  The imperial ambition of some demanded a culture of obedience from both military and civilians, which sparked constitutional fears and collided with desires for social and political independence.  Imperial ambition and obedience won.  This cultural shift transformed the navy into a superior fighting force at the same time as it pushed the empire into more authoritarian modes of governance.