A couple of quotes from Gibraltar: The Greatest Siege in British History by Roy Adkins and Lesley Adkins:

“Previously governor of Greenwich Hospital, Hardy† had earlier in the year been put in charge of the Channel Fleet, in what was a political rather than a military appointment.”

“Despite Admiral Hardy’s widely criticized handling of the invasion threat, he was still in command of the Channel Fleet, but instead of involving him in these new operations it was decided to place someone else in charge.”

†Sir Charles Hardy, Vice-Admiral of the Channel Fleet

Update
Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar, 1782 by John Singleton Copley at the Guildhall Art Gallery