在从风帆时代向蒸汽时代转变之际,海军的体系也发生了革命性的变化。随着海军技术的革新,很多专业岗位开始独立而出,其社会地位也开始大幅度提高。在风帆时代,海军军官之职多为贵族或者士绅阶层,乃至将帅舰长等的亲类所占据,中下阶层出身者虽说也能有机会获得这个地位,却仅仅是凤毛麟角。这种倾向在英国 The Navy’s system has also undergone a revolutionary change as it moves from sailing to steaming. As the naval technology innovation, many professional positions began to stand alone, and its social status began to substantially increase. In the era of sailing, naval officers mostly occupied by aristocrats or gentry classmen, and even elite captains. The middle and lower class elites, though they may also have access to this status, are only few in number. This tendency is in Britain