France declared war upon the British in 1793\. The burden to conduct a long conflict proved heavy for that island nation. Poverty increased. Liberties and freedoms were sometimes taken away. Thousands of men had to leave their families, and disease, desertion and death meant that many never returned. At first the Royal Navy barely had enough warships to cope, but eight years later she had more than enough. By that time a threat of invasion towards Ireland prompted Parliament to enact a new nation, christened The United Kingdom of Great Britain. As such, 1800 became the final year of the old Kingdom of Great Britain. As she passed away, many of her men and women might have wondered as to what had made her navy a true Neptune. What had assisted the slow birth of a naval 'superpower'? This book seeks to answer that very question. AUTHOR: Mark Jessop was a communicator in the Royal Navy at the time of the Falklands War, served multiple times in the Gulf, and did a tour of the Far East. Based in some of the largest British naval dockyards and having served on three frigates, he came to see not only the importance of yard workers and ships, but also just what it takes to maintain a Naval fleet. He has taught philosophy, theology, and enterprise. With a deep interest in military history, geography and art, he is keen to honour the heroes (both named and unnamed) of the age of sail and to bring their stories to life. 32 b/w illustrations