How did Samuel Pepys try to reduce corruption in the English navy?

Samuel Pepys fought corruption in the Royal Navy through a combination of rigorous administrative reform, personal industry, and a commitment to professional standards. His efforts to restore integrity and efficiency included several key strategies:

• Professional Education: Recognizing his initial lack of expertise, Pepys educated himself on technical aspects of the service, such as shipbuilding and the market prices of naval stores, to better oversee expenditures and prevent financial waste.1
• Systematic Record-Keeping: He established a habit of meticulously documenting all official contracts and memoranda in vellum books and maintaining copies of his correspondence, which created accountability within the office.1
• Administrative Oversight: As secretary to the Admiralty and later as the administrative head of the navy, he utilized his position to enforce order and discipline. He famously secured the appointment of a special commission in 1686 specifically for the Recovery of the Navy to address the systemic inefficiency and corruption that had previously hampered the service.1
• Parliamentary Advocacy: Pepys represented the navy in Parliament, where he defended his office and successfully pushed for programs to rebuild the fleet, ensuring the navy was managed with greater transparency and purpose.1