 The officer class of the Army and Navy provided a way to ascend this hierarchy; it was commonly the Ship's Surgeon who collected specimens on voyages, and Robert McCormick had secured the official position of surgeon on "Beagle" after taking part in earlier expeditions and studying natural history.A sizeable collection had considerable social value, attracting wide public interest, and McCormick aspired to fame as an exploring naturalist.Collections made by the Ship's Surgeon and other officers were government property, though the Admiralty was not consistent on this, and went to important London establishments, usually the British Museum.