Reddit mentions of The Line Upon a Wind: The Great War at Sea, 1793-1815

It's hard to make an argument for any modern naval commanders (i.e., those from the Second World War), because the contests were rigged, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific, due to Allied intelligence having cracked the German and Japanese codes. Add to that the overwhelming Allied material superiority, and it is hard to derive a clear picture of individual naval command quality.

My vote would be for Horatio Nelson--he improved upon the tactics of his day, was a dogged and indefatigable foe, was an independent thinker with superb strategic instincts, and did more than any other single person to ensure Great Britain's naval superiority & security during the French Revolutionary/Napoleonic period. Few naval commanders are fortunate to participate in even one decisive engagement; Nelson won three: the Nile (1798), Copenhagen (1801), and Trafalgar (1805), the last of which has a claim to being perhaps the most decisive naval battle in history (rivaled in importance only by Salamis, Actium, and Lepanto).

Moreover, in terms of influence upon future generations of naval commanders, Nelson is unmatched--as Napoleon inspired posterity to seek the Holy Grail of the decisive battle of annihilation on land, so it was for Nelson's heirs at sea.

SOURCES:

Adkins, Roy. Nelson's Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed The World. Viking Adult, 2005.

Mostert, Noel. The Line Upon The Wind: The Great War at Sea, 1793-1815. W.W. Norton & Co, 2008.

Six Frigates by Ian Toll is Phenomenal: https://www.amazon.com/Six-Frigates-Epic-History-Founding/dp/0393058476/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BYGY83FZD1CE&keywords=six+frigates&qid=1556727829&s=gateway&sprefix=Six+Fri%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1


The Line Upon the wind covers the Napoleonic war at sea: https://www.amazon.com/Line-Upon-Wind-Great-1793-1815/dp/0393066533/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1556728015&refinements=p_27%3ANoel+Mostert&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Noel+Mostert


Nelson's Trafalgar is also fantastic: https://www.amazon.com/Nelsons-Trafalgar-Battle-Changed-World/dp/0670034487/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Trafalgar&qid=1556728094&s=books&sr=1-2


If by Sea is a good companion piece to Six Frigates: https://www.amazon.com/If-Sea-Forging-American-Revolution/dp/0465016073/ref=pd_sim_14_92?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0465016073&pd_rd_r=84676f5d-6c2d-11e9-94d4-49728df24266&pd_rd_w=pA1k7&pd_rd_wg=XsBKn&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=W77XXV91PDQA2J0S6EE9&psc=1&refRID=W77XXV91PDQA2J0S6EE9



The best of the bunch is definitely Six Frigates.

Well, if you enjoy the naval side of things I would suggest The Line Upon a Wind http://www.amazon.com/The-Line-Upon-Wind-1793-1815/dp/0393066533

I thought it was a great read, it covers the last golden age of the sailing ship including all the "high points" like Nelson's adventures. It isn't strictly British focused, but any naval history around the Napoleonic Wars is pretty heavy on those pesky Brits.