For the North Sea Squadron under Admiral Duncan, the year 1797 was a time of seemingly irreconcilable contrasts. During the early summer of that year the North Sea Squadron, which he had commanded for the past two years, was taken from him. Not because of his transfer elsewhere, but through the emergence of elected shipboard committees that assumed power in their own right. These committees, which represented an indeterminate proportion of the seamen of Duncan's fleet, after consultation among themselves, decided upon sailing the squadron into the Thames. Here, at the Great Nore anchorage, they joined other vessels in mutiny, some of these also part of Duncan's squadron. Admiral Duncan, for his part, remained off the Texel, continuing to blockade an enemy invasion fleet, with no more than two battleships (Venerable and Adamant) and two frigates (Circe and Trent). Within four weeks, however, Duncan had regained total control of his squadron. Furthermore, on 11 October of that same year, he not only led this once disloyal fleet into battle, but also gained a massive naval victory over a superior force of Dutch warships.

These are powerful and extreme contrasts. In one part of the year virtually an entire squadron had not only rejected their admiral but had shown contempt for authority by sailing, on their own volition, to an alternative port. Yet, in complete contrast, and towards the end of that year, these same seamen were prepared to sacrifice life and limb in a viciously fought naval engagement.