Captain's license

[SAtoUSA]

Hello,
 
  I have an odd question and hope someone can offer some insight to this.

  I have an ancestor born in England in 1787, would became a sea captain. He sailed a ship to South Africa and requested permission to remain in the Cape Colony, South Africa in 1813 where he then lived out the rest of his life. He continued to be a captain of 4 other ships and worked the waters around South Africa until his death.
 
   Can someone tell me how I would go about finding out how he became a captain? Royal Navy connections? Merchant fleet? Do anyone know what would have been required and "if" such records exist for a license? He was a pretty young captain when he arrived in South Africa at the age of 25.

  Thanks in advance!

Stephanie

[stanmapstone]

Until 1845 there was no system of registration of officers (masters and mates) and so records which might incidentally make mention of them must be used to trace details about them.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=131

Stan

[SAtoUSA]

Thank you Stan. Answers the question!