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Explosion on the Potomac: The 1844 Calamity Aboard the USS Princeton
In 1844, the USS Princeton" was the most technologically sophisticated warship in the world. Its captain, Robert Stockton, and President John Tyler were both zealous expansionists, and they hoped that it would be the forerunner in a formidable steam-powered fleet. On a Potomac cruise intended to impress power brokers, the ship's main gun--the Peacemaker--exploded as the vessel neared Mount Vernon. Eight died horribly, while twenty others were injured. Two of Tyler's most important cabinet members were instantly lost, and the president himself had a near miss--making it the worst physical disaster to befall a presidential administration. The tragedy set off an unpredictable wave of events that cost Tyler a second term, nearly scuttled plans to add Texas to the Union and stirred up sectional rancor that drove the nation closer to civil war. Author Kerry Walters chronicles this little-known disaster that altered the course of the nation's history."
- GenresHistory
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 18, 2026
My interest in the story of the USS Princeton began as I was reading the book, Accidental Presidents. This was a significant event in American history that few have heard about, just one of thousands of impactful historical events that have been glossed over and forgotten.
In his book, Explosion on the Potomac, author Kerry Walters reveals how the tragic events on the USS Princeton “set in motion a chain of events that nearly cost the United States the state of Texas, put an end to John Tyler’s chance at a second term in the White House, delayed the modernization of the U.S. Navy by some fifteen years, dangerously ratcheted up the tension between North and South over slavery and contributed to the eventual eruption of two wars” (12).
Walters expertly lays out the events, people, inventions, weaponry, and bad decisions that led to the tragedy aboard the USS Princeton in 1844. A series of cause-and-effect actions that led to the ironically named cannon, Peacemaker, exploding on the deck of the ship, resulting in people being slaughtered and maimed in its destructive wake. It’s a remarkably violent story from history that has all but been forgotten.
Where was President Tyler when all this happened? In what would be an opening scene in a Final Destination movie, he was below deck when the explosion occurred, saved by luck and love. Others in his political and society circles weren’t as lucky, and many of their deaths would have a ripple effect long after the incident had been lost to time.
The book poses an interesting question: How many historical events like this one have been buried, lost, or forgotten? Every aspect of our lives in the U.S. and around the world has been shaped by good and bad policy decisions, local and global tragedies and victories, and the election, re-election, or assassination of political leaders. All of these have positive or negative impacts that often aren’t felt for decades, but whose origins can be traced back to events that most people are ignorant of.
As a history fan, I found Explosion on the Potomac to be a riveting tale that all leaders can learn from. As the old adage goes, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I’d be curious to know if this story was more widely known, whether it would have prevented future tragedies, and if it would have altered the course of history.
It’s a quick read, but one filled with great historical facts and trivia that any history buff is sure to enjoy.
Explosion on the Potomac: The 1844 Calamity Aboard the USS Princeton by Kerry Walters is a book I highly recommend.
In his book, Explosion on the Potomac, author Kerry Walters reveals how the tragic events on the USS Princeton “set in motion a chain of events that nearly cost the United States the state of Texas, put an end to John Tyler’s chance at a second term in the White House, delayed the modernization of the U.S. Navy by some fifteen years, dangerously ratcheted up the tension between North and South over slavery and contributed to the eventual eruption of two wars” (12).
Walters expertly lays out the events, people, inventions, weaponry, and bad decisions that led to the tragedy aboard the USS Princeton in 1844. A series of cause-and-effect actions that led to the ironically named cannon, Peacemaker, exploding on the deck of the ship, resulting in people being slaughtered and maimed in its destructive wake. It’s a remarkably violent story from history that has all but been forgotten.
Where was President Tyler when all this happened? In what would be an opening scene in a Final Destination movie, he was below deck when the explosion occurred, saved by luck and love. Others in his political and society circles weren’t as lucky, and many of their deaths would have a ripple effect long after the incident had been lost to time.
The book poses an interesting question: How many historical events like this one have been buried, lost, or forgotten? Every aspect of our lives in the U.S. and around the world has been shaped by good and bad policy decisions, local and global tragedies and victories, and the election, re-election, or assassination of political leaders. All of these have positive or negative impacts that often aren’t felt for decades, but whose origins can be traced back to events that most people are ignorant of.
As a history fan, I found Explosion on the Potomac to be a riveting tale that all leaders can learn from. As the old adage goes, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I’d be curious to know if this story was more widely known, whether it would have prevented future tragedies, and if it would have altered the course of history.
It’s a quick read, but one filled with great historical facts and trivia that any history buff is sure to enjoy.
Explosion on the Potomac: The 1844 Calamity Aboard the USS Princeton by Kerry Walters is a book I highly recommend.
March 24, 2020
This is a quick read on an American tragedy lost to time that includes a couple of mainly undistinguished US Presidents and the addition of one really big state—Texas—to the Union. Set in 1844, this is a nice story that is worth reading. Jim
August 25, 2024
This is the story of the explosion of the firt USS Princeton, a screw steamer build in 1843, and the ramificaitons that it had on the administration of President John Tyler both personally and professionally.
What I liked: Walters does a great job on providing concise and interesting bios of some of the main figures in this story - most notably President John Tyler and Secretary of State Abel Upshure. He does the biographies separate from the actual narrative, which aids in the flow of the story. His photos and maps add are helpful additions to this book.
What I didn't like: There were several points of opinion interjected and some historical errors.
I'm currently a docent and tour guide at Sherwood Forest, the home of John Tyler, where we tell the story of the Princeton disaster as part of our tours. I was very interested to read a stand alone version of the disaster, and wasn't disappointed in this short book that is rich in informational material on the President and the time period. I would recommend the chapter on Tyler to anyone who wanted a quick rundown on his politics and presidency. The errors discovered do not take away from the events and importance of this tragedy.
What I liked: Walters does a great job on providing concise and interesting bios of some of the main figures in this story - most notably President John Tyler and Secretary of State Abel Upshure. He does the biographies separate from the actual narrative, which aids in the flow of the story. His photos and maps add are helpful additions to this book.
What I didn't like: There were several points of opinion interjected and some historical errors.
I'm currently a docent and tour guide at Sherwood Forest, the home of John Tyler, where we tell the story of the Princeton disaster as part of our tours. I was very interested to read a stand alone version of the disaster, and wasn't disappointed in this short book that is rich in informational material on the President and the time period. I would recommend the chapter on Tyler to anyone who wanted a quick rundown on his politics and presidency. The errors discovered do not take away from the events and importance of this tragedy.
June 29, 2026
Explosion on the Potomac' is a gripping political thriller that pulls you in from the very beginning. The pacing keeps things moving, but what really stood out to me was how real and relevant the tension feels.
The story blends suspense with a deeper look into power, decisions, and consequences, which makes it more than just an action-driven plot. You can tell a lot of thought went into building the narrative, If you enjoy thrillers that feel close to reality and keep you thinking while turning pages, this one is definitely worth your time.
The story blends suspense with a deeper look into power, decisions, and consequences, which makes it more than just an action-driven plot. You can tell a lot of thought went into building the narrative, If you enjoy thrillers that feel close to reality and keep you thinking while turning pages, this one is definitely worth your time.
January 21, 2021
Great quick, concise telling on an underrated episode in US History.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews