The monograph reveals one of the little-studied issues of the maritime history of Russia - the participation of foreigners in the construction and combat activities of the domestic Navy in the 18th century. The presented material gives an idea of ​ ​ various aspects of the activities of the Russian administration and the maritime department to attract and select highly professional foreign personnel for service in the navy, as well as an understanding of the driving forces, the essence and content of this process, the mechanism of functioning of the professional selection system.