WI Napoleon had become an Admiral?

Hey. I've been reading, lately, and I was reading something about Napoleon, and there was one thing that peeked my interest...

When he was studying at the military school at Brienne, he seemed to be interested to go and join the navy, as he was being influenced by stories of Bougainville, since he had been sailing around the world at that time. Now, that peeked my interest, and I wondered...

What If Napoleon had joined the navy? Because he was turned down, and send to the army, instead, but... Just imagine how the world would've turned out if he had been given the clearing, and he joined the French Navy? Could he forge the same empire that he did, only by making it so that France was a dominant power on the sea, giving the Brits a run for it's money? Or would he have died in some random, unknown battle against the British, drowning somewhere, unknown?

Give you thoughts down below!
 
Hm, very few kings and emperors have been active naval commanders, even fewer have started that way I believe.
 
he probably would never been in the position to really make a difference or win any great victories that would have gained him any recognition. even a military genius would have found it almost impossible to go up against the royal navy of the period.
 
Napoleon seemed to have been inately gifted when it came to artillery, so that is a skill that could definitely translate to naval gunnery and warfare. He also had the type of boldness that the British have always prized in their naval commanders, but it would also depend on whether or not the French government in place would be able to harness his gifts. He could very well languish as a random naval commander if France doesn't invest in her fleets. Timing is important too. The events of the Revolution that led to his rise could happen, and Captain Bonaparte could be on the other side of the world in charge of a lonely French vessel, so he never gets his opportunity.

Very interesting premise though.
 
Top