The commander of an Indiaman was appointed, we know, even before the vessel's keel was laid, and almost invariably before she was launched. It has been described how, before 1796, the retiring captains sold their commands to those who succeeded them. Even in those days, however, the appointment lay ostensibly in the owner's gift; and, after the abolition of ‘hereditary bottoms’, it lay with him to select whom he would from among those duly qualified. That owners sometimes sold their commands is probable; often, however, they appointed relatives or friends. There were some owners who held that to sell a command might be a financial blunder, as a really efficient captain was worth more to his owners than an incompetent captain would pay. Others, again, were too high-minded to engage in any such transaction. The captain, having been nominated by the owner, as a result of purchase, interest, friendship or through being his nephew or son-in-law, had to gain the consent of the Court of Directors.

This last step in the process of obtaining a command was the easiest. The candidate, to satisfy the Court, had only to comply with certain regulations. The Court, that is to say, confined itself to ascertaining whether the candidate was eligible. To fulfil this condition, he had to be at least twenty-five years old, and either have commanded a regular or extra ship before, or else made at least one voyage in a regular ship as chief or second mate.