After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, the English Commonwealth was founded and lasted until 1660. Supreme power was held by the Council of State, composed of senior officers of the New Model Army and loyal parliamentarians. In essence, it was a lawless military dictatorship headed by the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. One of the Commonwealth's first aims was to create a strong navy: the State’s Navy. They recognized that a powerful fleet was essential, as various European enemies posed threats from the seas.

When the Royal Navy went to war with Germany, its fleet was, for the most part, the brainchild of Sir John Fisher. Who was Sir John Fisher, and why was he considered such an influential figure in the Royal Navy at the time?