About The Book

IF BY SEA is the definitive history of the founding of the United States Navy. It charts forty tumultuous years of false starts, failures and triumphs, as the fledgling republic sought to establish its place in the world. From the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775 to Yorktown in 1781; from the Quasi-War with France and the War with Tripoli, and from the great naval battles of the War of 1812 to New Orleans, the need for and prospects of an American navy were very much in question. During the Federalist Era (1789-1801), in particular, even as other national institutions were moving from the words of the Constitution to the reality of a workable republican government, the founding fathers were embroiled in a vicious partisan fight over the navy's very existence. Indeed, the political bickering went on and on, well into the next century, ending only when the navy, through its undeniable record of achievement during the War of 1812, proved indispensable to the country's defense and to the peace that followed.
* WINNER OF THE 2008 SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD *

*THE FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM BOOK AWARD: HONORABLE MENTION FOR 2009 *

* SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BEST SELLER *

* MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM BEST SELLER *

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award

"If By Sea" has received an Honorable Mention for the prestigious 2009 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award. This award will be given by the Sons of the American Revolution at the Tavern in New York on April 27. See the News and Reviews page for more information.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Portsmouth, NH and Mystic Seaport

My next event is in Portsmouth, NH at the Portsmouth Yacht Club dinner. This is for members only but if you are a member please plan to attend.

For my Connecticut friends, I'll be at Mystic Seaport on April 17 and 18. Hope you'll be able to stop by. See the events page for more details.