That said, not all naval surgeons were ambitious young hotshots, and plenty were simply drunks, debtors or incompetents who'd failed to make a living as physicians ashore. At the Glorious First of June in 1794, the surgeon of HMS Defence, an "amiable man" named James Malcolm, proved incapable (either through squeamishness or professional ineptitude) of amputating limbs. The fact that men like Malcolm were ever employed in the role, and that men like Beatty could rise so quickly, is reflective of how desperate the Navy was for doctors until they began to offer proper incentives to physicians in 1805.

Sailing master was the other specialised warrant officer role, dealing primarily in navigation, plotting the ship's course and position, etc. They tended to have no difficulty finding mates to deputise them, as they could recruit ordinary foremast hands who had navigational experience as quartermasters or helmsmen, or appoint midshipmen (usually those from lower social ranks) who saw little chance of earning a promotion to lieutenant, and judged becoming a master to be their best chance of career progression.