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Types of Naval Officers, Drawn from the History of the British Navy

by A. T. Mahan

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Pages: 249

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About this book

Six British naval careers give A. T. Mahan a way to examine the different abilities a fleet needs. His subjects are Hawke, Rodney, Howe, Jervis, Saumarez and Pellew, officers whose service spans the conflicts of 1739 to 1815. These biographical studies connect individual temperament with command, discipline and naval strategy during the age of sail. The preface also traces their links with America, from colonial family connections to service in the War of Independence.

Mahan uses incidents and anecdotes to explain the professional character of his subjects. In the section on Howe, meetings with Franklin and an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation show how personal goodwill could coexist with political disagreement.

About the author

A. T. Mahan

Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) was an American naval officer and historian who taught at the Naval War College in Newport. His writing on sea power shaped strategic thinking in the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan, making him the most influential military theorist of his generation.