Friendship and patronage were two core features of both the eighteenthcentury navy and wider society. These relationships were called upon repeatedly by officers and their families in their quest to cultivate successful naval careers. The help and interest of friends was essential for professional success in the navy. These friends could be family members or other non-related but interested parties. Friends were often slightly different from patrons in that they could attempt to solicit support but were often not in a position to directly deliver the required position or promotion. A key component of the dynamic of patronage was loyalty and duty to the service, the King and the nation. As we saw in the previous chapter, young officers such as Everard Home constructed their identity as worthy, dedicated seamen, loyal to the country and the service. With a father dedicated to obtaining his son's promotion and developing and nurturing patronage networks, Everard Home was able to succeed in his profession. For some young officers, however, promotion and patronage were much harder to come by. William Edward Fiott's lack of patronage, interest and influential friendship saw him languish as an ageing lieutenant in inactive and unprofitable stations. Fiott's plight was further exacerbated by the fact that he was an orphan. Although his uncles, particularly Whig MP William Lee Antonie, were supportive and offered some paternal guidance, Fiott lacked the dedicated patronage campaign that other young officers with keen fathers (such as Home) enjoyed.