Life of Rear Admiral John Randolph Tucker

A naval career spanning three countries gives James Henry Rochelle's biography its broad scope. John Randolph Tucker served in the United States Navy, commanded Confederate vessels during the American Civil War, and later became a rear admiral in Peru. The contents follow changes in ships, commands and national allegiance, with substantial attention to Hampton Roads, Charleston and the fighting along the James River. A biographical sketch of Rochelle introduces the author alongside his subject.

The later account turns toward South America, where Tucker directs the allied Peruvian and Chilean fleets before proposing a survey of the Upper Amazon and its tributaries. His appointment to the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission brings river exploration into a life previously shaped by naval duty. An appendix supplies notes on navigation, giving readers a practical geographical companion to the biography. The combination suits readers interested in Civil War naval operations and nineteenth-century river surveys.