This is book 10 of the "Hornblower" series.

This note contains spoilers for the book.

 

Admiral! In fact, Commander in Chief of the West Indies station. However, it's a much reduced station since Napoleon is gone.

Well, almost gone. Safely imprisoned on St. Helena.

At least, safely so long as the shipload of veteran French infantry don't get there to rescue him. Hornblower has to sacrifice his personal honor and, prospectively, his wife's love, to stop it (since his ship has no real hope of defeating the other). He pulls it off, convincing the captain that he's had news of Napoleon's death (by giving his personal word of honor).

Then, before he can tell anybody, he gets the actual news, letting him off the hook.

And that's just the opening salvo of this book.

Traveling home at the end, with his wife who came out for the purpose, they survive a hurricane in the packet ship, with significant contribution from Hornblower.

Along the way, he's had to deal with the fights for independence by the Spanish colonies in the new world, and with the slave trade.