Our Country, Right or Wrong: The Life of Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy's Most Illustrious Commander
by Leonard F. Guttridge
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"Blazing sea fights and undercurrents of intrigue: These are among the compelling ingredients of a biography that brings to life the most illustrious and formidable figure of the United States Navy. His name is carried by more than two dozen towns and cities. Here at last is a full exploration of Stephen Decatur's complex character. Reckless in youth, cool yet audacious in combat, loved by those who sailed under his command yet plotted against by rivals in the race for glory, Decatur is show more brought to life in this sea story." "Decatur's heroism became widespread news in 1804 when, sent to reclaim a captured U.S. vessel from Tripoli in the Barbary Wars, he ordered his men to set fire to the captured vessel and proceed to attack the sailors of the Tripoli fleet in hand-to-hand combat. His brilliance continued through the War of 1812, after which he was promoted to commodore, the highest naval rank." "Decatur not only proved dauntless on the quarterdeck but amazingly effective in Mediterranean diplomacy. His spectacular dealings with Islamic powers presaged America's twenty-first century involvement in the region." "Readers will also learn the identity of the woman he forsook for a sophisticated beauty pursued by suitors as varied as Napoleon Bonaparte's brother and Aaron Burr. Through freshly discovered documents, many official, some intensely personal, biographer Leonard Guttridge traces the elements that sped Decatur inexorably into the shadow of murder."--BOOK JACKET. show lessTags
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Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Stephen Decatur; John Adams; William Henry Allen; Joseph Bainbridge; William Bainbridge; Sir Alexander Ball (show all 54); James Barron, American naval officer; George Bomford; Dr. John Bullus; John Surman Carden; Aaron Burr; Charles Carroll of Carrollton; Isaac Chauncey; William Crane; Benjamin Crowninshield; Ann Decatur; Ann Pine Decatur; James Bruce Decatur; Samuel Barron; Jane Barron; Stephen Decatur, sr.; Susan Wheeler Decatur; Jesse Duncan Elliott; Charles Gordon; John Hall; Paul Hamilton; Thomas Masterman Hardy; Catherine "Kitty" Harper; Robert Goodloe Harper; Isaac Hull; Andrew Jackson; Thomas Jefferson; William Jones; Bashaw Yusuf Karamanli; Edward "Ned" Latimer; James Lawrence; William Lewis; Thomas Macdonough, jr.; James Madison; James Monroe; Charles Morris; Alexander Murray; Oliver Hazard Perry; David Porter; Edward Preble; John Rodgers; William Shaler; Robert Smith; Charles Stewart; Benjamin Stoddert; Robert Barraud Taylor; Littleton Waller Tazewell; Thomas Truxtun; Luke Wheeler
- First words
- The gale that halted the first attempt to steal into Tripoli harbor struck at dawn on February 7, 1807.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)With fervor and genuine dedication, every glass in the land can be raised to than one.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 359.0092 — Society, government, & culture Public administration & military science Naval forces and warfare Biography; History By Place Biography
- LCC
- E353.1 .D29 .G88 — History of the United States United States Revolution to the Civil War, 1775/1783-1861 By period Early nineteenth century, 1801/1809-1845 Madison's administrations, 1809-1817
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 39
- Popularity
- 749,456
- Rating
- (4.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
