Initially the English Navy had organized its fleet into sub-commands namely squadrons from at least 1205 [2] and certainly during the 16th century.

[3] From 1509 until 1649 Vice-Admirals commanding particular fleets were styled so as to denote he was junior to the Lord Admiral of England these flag officers were formally appointed by the crown.

[4] From 1709 the Channel Squadron was coordinated out of Spithead, Hampshire, England under the command of Sir John Norris.

In March 1744 he resigned his post over the Admiralty's attempts to override his authority in setting strategy in response to renewed hostilities against France.

[7] Following Admiral Norris's resignation the station was then commanded by Sir John Balchen until 1746 when the Admiralty issued orders to centralize all existing naval commands in the English Channel including Spithead and those at the Downs, Narrow Seas, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, to be under the control of Admiral Lord Anson then the Commander-in-Chief, Western Squadron.