Rule Britannia!

CDR Salamander is offering some pithy commentary on the foolishness of the political and social trend of keeping people in adolescence as long as possible.

In the process, he offers this amazing example of what happens when age is not considered a handicap.

Let's look at James Lucas Yeo, born 1782;

...he joined the Royal Navy in March 1793 as a boy volunteer. ... as a midshipman at the age of 10.

In 1797, he was promoted lieutenant, and assigned to the HMS La Loire... He first saw action as a lieutenant aboard a brig in the Adriatic Sea. 

Look at your calendar. He was promoted to lieutenant at age 15 and was already in combat.

He distinguished himself during the siege of Cesenatico in 1800.

At age 18. This was not a one-off performance. Remember, he was leading men more than twice his age in ship's company, most likely.

While off the Spanish coast, he was sent to capture the Spanish vessels in the port of El Muros. Storming the fort, he succeeded in bringing out of the port every vessel, armed and unarmed. For this achievement, he was made commander, and given the HMS Confiance, one of the vessels he had taken. 

When did he do this? 1805. Age 22.

Yeo participated in several sea battles during the Napoleonic Wars so successfully that he was made a captain on December 19, 1807, by which time he had already been recognized as an intrepid practitioner of unconventional sea warfare.

Age? 24.

In 1809, he captured Cayenne, in conjunction with the Portuguese, and was in consequence made post-captain.

Age 26.