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Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America's First Humanitarian Mission
“Puleo has found a new way to tell the story with this well-researched and splendidly written chronicle of the Jamestown, its captain, and an Irish priest who ministered to the starving in Cork city…Puleo’s tale, despite the hardship to come, surely is a tribute to the better angels of America’s nature, and in that sense, it couldn’t be more timely.” ― The Wall Street Journal
The remarkable story of the mission that inspired a nation to donate massive relief to Ireland during the potato famine and began America's tradition of providing humanitarian aid around the world
More than 5,000 ships left Ireland during the great potato famine in the late 1840s, transporting the starving and the destitute away from their stricken homeland. The first vessel to sail in the other direction, to help the millions unable to escape, was the USS Jamestown , a converted warship, which left Boston in March 1847 loaded with precious food for Ireland.
In an unprecedented move by Congress, the warship had been placed in civilian hands, stripped of its guns, and committed to the peaceful delivery of food, clothing, and supplies in a mission that would launch America’s first full-blown humanitarian relief effort.
Captain Robert Bennet Forbes and the crew of the USS Jamestown embarked on a voyage that began a massive eighteen-month demonstration of soaring goodwill against the backdrop of unfathomable despair―one nation’s struggle to survive, and another’s effort to provide a lifeline. The Jamestown mission captured hearts and minds on both sides of the Atlantic, of the wealthy and the hardscrabble poor, of poets and politicians. Forbes’ undertaking inspired a nationwide outpouring of relief that was unprecedented in size and scope, the first instance of an entire nation extending a hand to a foreign neighbor for purely humanitarian reasons. It showed the world that national generosity and brotherhood were not signs of weakness, but displays of quiet strength and moral certitude.
In Voyage of Mercy , Stephen Puleo tells the incredible story of the famine, the Jamestown voyage, and the commitment of thousands of ordinary Americans to offer relief to Ireland, a groundswell that provided the collaborative blueprint for future relief efforts, and established the United States as the leader in international aid. The USS Jamestown ’s heroic voyage showed how the ramifications of a single decision can be measured not in days, but in decades.
The remarkable story of the mission that inspired a nation to donate massive relief to Ireland during the potato famine and began America's tradition of providing humanitarian aid around the world
More than 5,000 ships left Ireland during the great potato famine in the late 1840s, transporting the starving and the destitute away from their stricken homeland. The first vessel to sail in the other direction, to help the millions unable to escape, was the USS Jamestown , a converted warship, which left Boston in March 1847 loaded with precious food for Ireland.
In an unprecedented move by Congress, the warship had been placed in civilian hands, stripped of its guns, and committed to the peaceful delivery of food, clothing, and supplies in a mission that would launch America’s first full-blown humanitarian relief effort.
Captain Robert Bennet Forbes and the crew of the USS Jamestown embarked on a voyage that began a massive eighteen-month demonstration of soaring goodwill against the backdrop of unfathomable despair―one nation’s struggle to survive, and another’s effort to provide a lifeline. The Jamestown mission captured hearts and minds on both sides of the Atlantic, of the wealthy and the hardscrabble poor, of poets and politicians. Forbes’ undertaking inspired a nationwide outpouring of relief that was unprecedented in size and scope, the first instance of an entire nation extending a hand to a foreign neighbor for purely humanitarian reasons. It showed the world that national generosity and brotherhood were not signs of weakness, but displays of quiet strength and moral certitude.
In Voyage of Mercy , Stephen Puleo tells the incredible story of the famine, the Jamestown voyage, and the commitment of thousands of ordinary Americans to offer relief to Ireland, a groundswell that provided the collaborative blueprint for future relief efforts, and established the United States as the leader in international aid. The USS Jamestown ’s heroic voyage showed how the ramifications of a single decision can be measured not in days, but in decades.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
192 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Puleo
9 books114 followersStephen Puleo is an author, historian, teacher, public speaker, and communications professional. His eighth book, The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union, was published by St. Martin’s Press in April, 2024.
Follow Steve on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stephenpuleo...) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/puleosteve/) or visit his website (https://www.stephenpuleo.com/) for current news and events.
Steve's previously published books are:
• Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America’s First Humanitarian Mission (2020)
• American Treasures: The Secret Efforts to Save the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address (2016)
• The Caning: The Assault That Drove America to Civil War (2012)
• A City So Grand: The Rise of an American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900 (2010)
• The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride, Perseverance and Paesani, from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day (2007)
• Due to Enemy Action: The True World War II Story of the USS Eagle 56 (2005)
• Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 (2003)
All of Steve’s books have been Boston regional bestsellers and have received national recognition. His work has been reviewed favorably by the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, the Boston Globe, the New York Post, Parade magazine, The National Review, Forbes.com, C-SPAN, the Associated Press, the Portland Press Herald, the Providence Journal, the Hartford Courant, Kirkus Reviews, Barnes and Noble Review.com, Library Journal, Booklist, History.com, and Publishers Weekly. Numerous national media outlets have interviewed Steve, including NBC, the New York Times, Parade magazine, History.com, C-SPAN, the History Channel, the Associated Press, and regional and national radio and television outlets.
An experienced, dynamic, and in-demand speaker and presenter, Steve has made nearly 700 appearances before thousands of readers – including bookstore signings, keynote addresses, library presentations, historical societies, industry events, book clubs, and appearances at universities and public and private schools. His showcase appearances include: speaking events at both the National Archives and the National Constitution Center; as a keynote for the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Massachusetts Superior Court; and as a participant with Italian-American and Jewish-American scholars on a panel entitled, Italy and the Holocaust, presented at UMass-Boston. If you would like more information about having Steve appear at your event, please contact him at spuleo@aol.com.
A former award-winning newspaper reporter and contributor of articles and book reviews to publications and organizations that include American History magazine, Politico, the Boston Globe, and the Bill of Rights Institute, Steve has also taught history at Suffolk University in Boston and at UMass-Boston. He has developed and taught numerous writing workshops for high school and college students, as well as for adults who aspire to be writers. His books have been woven into the curricula of numerous high schools and colleges, and more than 30 communities have selected his books as “community-wide reads.” Steve also conducts book-club tours of Boston’s North End, one of the nation’s most historic neighborhoods.
Steve holds a master’s degree in history from UMass-Boston, where he received the Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement and was the Graduate Convocation keynote speaker. His master’s thesis, From Italy to Boston’s North End: Italian Immigration and Settlement, 1890-1910, has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times by scholars and readers around the world.
Steve and his wife Kate live south of Boston and donate a portion of his book proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Follow Steve on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stephenpuleo...) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/puleosteve/) or visit his website (https://www.stephenpuleo.com/) for current news and events.
Steve's previously published books are:
• Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America’s First Humanitarian Mission (2020)
• American Treasures: The Secret Efforts to Save the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address (2016)
• The Caning: The Assault That Drove America to Civil War (2012)
• A City So Grand: The Rise of an American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900 (2010)
• The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride, Perseverance and Paesani, from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day (2007)
• Due to Enemy Action: The True World War II Story of the USS Eagle 56 (2005)
• Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 (2003)
All of Steve’s books have been Boston regional bestsellers and have received national recognition. His work has been reviewed favorably by the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, the Boston Globe, the New York Post, Parade magazine, The National Review, Forbes.com, C-SPAN, the Associated Press, the Portland Press Herald, the Providence Journal, the Hartford Courant, Kirkus Reviews, Barnes and Noble Review.com, Library Journal, Booklist, History.com, and Publishers Weekly. Numerous national media outlets have interviewed Steve, including NBC, the New York Times, Parade magazine, History.com, C-SPAN, the History Channel, the Associated Press, and regional and national radio and television outlets.
An experienced, dynamic, and in-demand speaker and presenter, Steve has made nearly 700 appearances before thousands of readers – including bookstore signings, keynote addresses, library presentations, historical societies, industry events, book clubs, and appearances at universities and public and private schools. His showcase appearances include: speaking events at both the National Archives and the National Constitution Center; as a keynote for the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Massachusetts Superior Court; and as a participant with Italian-American and Jewish-American scholars on a panel entitled, Italy and the Holocaust, presented at UMass-Boston. If you would like more information about having Steve appear at your event, please contact him at spuleo@aol.com.
A former award-winning newspaper reporter and contributor of articles and book reviews to publications and organizations that include American History magazine, Politico, the Boston Globe, and the Bill of Rights Institute, Steve has also taught history at Suffolk University in Boston and at UMass-Boston. He has developed and taught numerous writing workshops for high school and college students, as well as for adults who aspire to be writers. His books have been woven into the curricula of numerous high schools and colleges, and more than 30 communities have selected his books as “community-wide reads.” Steve also conducts book-club tours of Boston’s North End, one of the nation’s most historic neighborhoods.
Steve holds a master’s degree in history from UMass-Boston, where he received the Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement and was the Graduate Convocation keynote speaker. His master’s thesis, From Italy to Boston’s North End: Italian Immigration and Settlement, 1890-1910, has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times by scholars and readers around the world.
Steve and his wife Kate live south of Boston and donate a portion of his book proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
July 29, 2020
5 stars for an outstanding story of the US extraordinary humanitarian mission during the Mexican-US war. In 1847, as news of the terrible famine in Ireland reached the US, voluntary relief committees were organized all across the US. The committee in Boston with the encouragement of Robert Bennet Forbes, merchant sea captain, petitioned the US Congress to make available 1 or more US warships to carry donated food to Ireland. Forbes volunteered to Captain this ship. He suggested the USS Jamestown, then in dry dock at the Boston Navy yard for repairs.
Congress granted the request, after 2 days of debate which veered of into pro and anti slavery issues at one point. Donations of money, food and clothing poured in from all across the US. President Polk convened a cabinet meeting for advice and they approved the request. Twenty of the ship's twenty-two deck guns were removed to make room for food. Although Irish American Catholics were in the forefront of contributors, people from all faiths, including Jews, Quakers, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Unitarians and others set aside their fears of Irish "popery", in the name of humanitarianism.
"Through July 4, 1848, fifteen months after the assistance began, Americans donated a massive amount of food, more than 9,900 tons, to sustain Ireland."
Forbes sailed on March 28, 1847 with an all volunteer crew of civilians, like himself. Four experienced captains volunteered to be his officers.
This was the first time a country had decided to send aid to another country instead of a conquering army. This was also the start of the American tradition of public/private aid to countries in need. Some later examples include the Belgian relief committee in 1914 and the Berlin Airlift in 1948.
Well over 1 million men, women and children died from starvation and attendant diseases, in what some historians call the first genocide. British officials despised the Irish. In the words of Charles Trevelyan, assistant secretary at the British Treasury responsible for famine relief efforts "God had 'sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson...[and it] must not be too much mitigated."
British relief was halfhearted, penurious and far too little for the massive starvation. During the famine from 1847-1855, Ireland exported more food than it imported every single year. This food was transported to the ports under armed guard and enriched the English absentee landlords.
George Bernard Shaw in "Man and Superman"
" Malone: My father died of starvation in the Black 47. Maybe you've heard of it?
Violet: The Famine?
Malone: No, the starvation. When a country is full of food and exporting it, there can be no famine."
This was a library book and I strongly recommend it.
Congress granted the request, after 2 days of debate which veered of into pro and anti slavery issues at one point. Donations of money, food and clothing poured in from all across the US. President Polk convened a cabinet meeting for advice and they approved the request. Twenty of the ship's twenty-two deck guns were removed to make room for food. Although Irish American Catholics were in the forefront of contributors, people from all faiths, including Jews, Quakers, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Unitarians and others set aside their fears of Irish "popery", in the name of humanitarianism.
"Through July 4, 1848, fifteen months after the assistance began, Americans donated a massive amount of food, more than 9,900 tons, to sustain Ireland."
Forbes sailed on March 28, 1847 with an all volunteer crew of civilians, like himself. Four experienced captains volunteered to be his officers.
This was the first time a country had decided to send aid to another country instead of a conquering army. This was also the start of the American tradition of public/private aid to countries in need. Some later examples include the Belgian relief committee in 1914 and the Berlin Airlift in 1948.
Well over 1 million men, women and children died from starvation and attendant diseases, in what some historians call the first genocide. British officials despised the Irish. In the words of Charles Trevelyan, assistant secretary at the British Treasury responsible for famine relief efforts "God had 'sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson...[and it] must not be too much mitigated."
British relief was halfhearted, penurious and far too little for the massive starvation. During the famine from 1847-1855, Ireland exported more food than it imported every single year. This food was transported to the ports under armed guard and enriched the English absentee landlords.
George Bernard Shaw in "Man and Superman"
" Malone: My father died of starvation in the Black 47. Maybe you've heard of it?
Violet: The Famine?
Malone: No, the starvation. When a country is full of food and exporting it, there can be no famine."
This was a library book and I strongly recommend it.
July 8, 2020
REVISED:
I've given this review more thought since I initially wrote its review.
This book frustrates, annoys, and disappoints me.
It tells a story that I was not familiar with and an era that I'm fairly knowledgable about. It does so is an interesting way, but it failed to fully capture me or entice me.
But, I realized today, that is not the books fault, but rather because the book points to a period when America was starting to become something bigger than itself. The book points to an ideal to which America probably never achieved, but strove to project. The book paints a picture of when America and Americans started to realize that they are more than just pushing westward and could be more than the sum of its parts.
I know, idealistic? Niave? Foolharty? Never really happened?
Exactly. It is an image of America that I believe in---one where we strove to set an example for the world.
I usually avoid politics in my reviews unless I'm dealing with a political book, but I can't avoid it with this book and give it an honest review.
America always stood for an ideal---even if we didn't achieve it---the rest of the world saw that ideal. Unfortunately, we've lost that. We are no longer a country to be admired and respected, we've become a country to be pitied and scorned.
My problem with this book is that we are no longer a country which values humanitarian missions, but seek profits over all else. I mourn what we have become and hope that we can rise from those ashes.
I've given this review more thought since I initially wrote its review.
This book frustrates, annoys, and disappoints me.
It tells a story that I was not familiar with and an era that I'm fairly knowledgable about. It does so is an interesting way, but it failed to fully capture me or entice me.
But, I realized today, that is not the books fault, but rather because the book points to a period when America was starting to become something bigger than itself. The book points to an ideal to which America probably never achieved, but strove to project. The book paints a picture of when America and Americans started to realize that they are more than just pushing westward and could be more than the sum of its parts.
I know, idealistic? Niave? Foolharty? Never really happened?
Exactly. It is an image of America that I believe in---one where we strove to set an example for the world.
I usually avoid politics in my reviews unless I'm dealing with a political book, but I can't avoid it with this book and give it an honest review.
America always stood for an ideal---even if we didn't achieve it---the rest of the world saw that ideal. Unfortunately, we've lost that. We are no longer a country to be admired and respected, we've become a country to be pitied and scorned.
My problem with this book is that we are no longer a country which values humanitarian missions, but seek profits over all else. I mourn what we have become and hope that we can rise from those ashes.
May 10, 2020
I don't usually read non-fiction, but I'm so glad my new book club picked this book as our first selection. I had never read of our first national humanitarian effort to Ireland during the 1847 potato famine. Read this book. It will make you so proud to be an American. You'll also read about the self-less ship captain from Boston, who volunteered to take the ship loaded with food to the starving Irish, and the Irish priest, Theobald Mathew, who gave everything he had to help his poor people.
January 18, 2021
This was surprisingly interesting! The writing was engaging and I enjoyed learning about this period of history. The congressional aspects were really interesting to me along with the responses from other countries and how they differed. There were also some scary traveling situations that almost read like an adventure thriller. I definitely recommend the audiobook, the narrator was fantastic and kept me listening. I really liked this!
March 11, 2020
I was pretty excited when I read the title of this book and that it is about the Irish Famine. I only fairly recently (a few years ago) had heard a little about this by a student whose ancestors had come to America during that time and the little knowledge that he had, so the title piqued my interest.
I can't even begin to convey how well-researched, informative, and detailed this book is. I learned a lot about the Irish famine, how apathetic America was at first, and about the courageous (very in my opinion) Robert Bennet Forbes was to brave the ocean to the other side of the world, leaving his wife, Rose, and their family under some very dire circumstances. It chronicles Forbes' adventures and how he began "boating" and how he was so passionate about it. He was given the honor of "commandeering" The USS Jamestown when he was not in the service. It caused quite a debate, but "for the first time in the sixty years since the United States had adopted its Constitution, Congress had agreed to use American warships on a humanitarian mission, and to place government-owned ships in private hands to transport private contributions to a foreign country" (loc. 1305). This statement in Puleos’ book is nothing less than incredible.
Irish people were dropping dead like flies, many homeless people with no place to sleep or have shelter, and families were dying in groups. There is so much detail and I was truly affected emotionally for what Ireland's people had to go through, even with many believing that their cry was another "the-boy-who-cried-wolf" story. Oh. My. Gosh. What they went through will break anyone's heart, even if it was back in the mid 1800's.
One aspect of the book that I loved was how many people whose names, books, and ideologies I have studied were mentioned in the book, giving insight to more of what they've done. People such as Frederick Douglass, a black slave/abolitionist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth, Louisa May Alcott and so many others who voiced their opinions regarding Boston's Irish relief efforts.
Evidently Stephen Puleo has written several other nonfiction history books, so because of this book I definitely plan to read others. There is no way to articulate how informative this book is. I highly recommend this to anyone, historian or not. It could definitely be read by high school students and adults alike. Puleo has written it in such a way that it is very engaging, and I wasn't able to put it down because it kept me interested from beginning to end.
*NOTE: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
I can't even begin to convey how well-researched, informative, and detailed this book is. I learned a lot about the Irish famine, how apathetic America was at first, and about the courageous (very in my opinion) Robert Bennet Forbes was to brave the ocean to the other side of the world, leaving his wife, Rose, and their family under some very dire circumstances. It chronicles Forbes' adventures and how he began "boating" and how he was so passionate about it. He was given the honor of "commandeering" The USS Jamestown when he was not in the service. It caused quite a debate, but "for the first time in the sixty years since the United States had adopted its Constitution, Congress had agreed to use American warships on a humanitarian mission, and to place government-owned ships in private hands to transport private contributions to a foreign country" (loc. 1305). This statement in Puleos’ book is nothing less than incredible.
Irish people were dropping dead like flies, many homeless people with no place to sleep or have shelter, and families were dying in groups. There is so much detail and I was truly affected emotionally for what Ireland's people had to go through, even with many believing that their cry was another "the-boy-who-cried-wolf" story. Oh. My. Gosh. What they went through will break anyone's heart, even if it was back in the mid 1800's.
One aspect of the book that I loved was how many people whose names, books, and ideologies I have studied were mentioned in the book, giving insight to more of what they've done. People such as Frederick Douglass, a black slave/abolitionist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth, Louisa May Alcott and so many others who voiced their opinions regarding Boston's Irish relief efforts.
Evidently Stephen Puleo has written several other nonfiction history books, so because of this book I definitely plan to read others. There is no way to articulate how informative this book is. I highly recommend this to anyone, historian or not. It could definitely be read by high school students and adults alike. Puleo has written it in such a way that it is very engaging, and I wasn't able to put it down because it kept me interested from beginning to end.
*NOTE: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
December 12, 2024
Puleo’s book is thoroughly researched and wonderfully readable despite the unspeakably grim subject matter of the Irish potato famine of 1847. I learned quite a bit not only of this catastrophically horrific event, but of British / Irish relations, the early years of America’s international relations and humanitarian missions, and also a bit more of Irish emigration to (and settlement in) America. Puleo does a wonderful job of giving life to the towering characters of America’s Robert Bennet Forbes and Ireland’s Father Theobald Mathew, and the trials and tribulations each had to endure before, during and after the USS Jamestown’s voyage of mercy. This is a worthwhile and refreshing history of man’s humanity and goodwill to his fellow man, and one that is especially poignant given the turbulence of our current times. Recommended.
February 25, 2023
On March 28, 1847, Captain Robert Bennet Forbes set sail from Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor on an unprecedented humanitarian mission to Ireland, carrying 800 tons of food, clothing and supplies for the victims of the Irish Famine. The voyage was sanctioned by Congress as was the use of the USS Jamestown, a retrofitted warship. The crew was all volunteer and the supplies were donated by Americans in an overwhelming famine-aid response. It was the first of many such trips to provide aid to Ireland and served as a blueprint for public/private collaborative relief efforts that continue to characterize U.S. international aid.
In this absorbing narrative history, Stephen Puleo blends primary source research with engaging writing to illuminate this groundbreaking humanitarian mission, bring clarity to the causes and impact of the potato famine, and share the life stories of Captain Forbes and Father Theobald Mathew, key players on both sides of the ocean. It’s a fascinating and uplifting story and the words of Captain Forbes seem prescient: “What we are doing will be an example to be followed by some abroad who might shut their hearts to the calls of their neighbors - it will prove a seed sown in fruitful ground.”
In this absorbing narrative history, Stephen Puleo blends primary source research with engaging writing to illuminate this groundbreaking humanitarian mission, bring clarity to the causes and impact of the potato famine, and share the life stories of Captain Forbes and Father Theobald Mathew, key players on both sides of the ocean. It’s a fascinating and uplifting story and the words of Captain Forbes seem prescient: “What we are doing will be an example to be followed by some abroad who might shut their hearts to the calls of their neighbors - it will prove a seed sown in fruitful ground.”
May 15, 2020
I was easily swept up in this well written account of the historic voyage of the USS Jamestown, which sailed from Boston to Ireland on a lifesaving rescue mission. Originally a war ship, the Jamestown had had all but two guns removed, to make room for 8000 barrels of food. The potato famine of 1847 had left tens of thousands starving, fever ridden and homeless. The circumstances explaining how the situation had become so dire are presented in such a way that the reader is quickly absorbed and eager for more. It’s clear that the book has been extensively researched, and that the author feels passionately about his subject. As a result of the famine, countless immigrants fled Ireland for America. There are vivid images within these pages which will remain with me always – the sheer magnitude of the suffering and starvation, coupled with the grim reality of trans-Atlantic crossings in sailing ships, to name a couple.. Not only were these vessels subject to the elements, but the situation was compounded by overcrowding, sickness, and an abysmal lack of sanitation. Contagious diseases spread rapidly, hence the term ‘fever ship’. On another note, the outpouring of gratitude by the Irish people upon receipt of the aid was incredibly moving.
‘Never before had the people of one nation offered assistance to those of another on such a grand scale’.
It does give one a new appreciation for the challenges faced by immigrants of that era. How easily the principal players spring to life! Robert Bennet Forbes was the ship’s captain, a man of extraordinary courage and determination. Easily equal in importance/magnitude was Father Theobald Mathew, devout and selfless, who initially dedicated his life to a temperance crusade, but ultimately shifted focus to caring for his desperate people/flock. His compassion for the fever ridden, starving masses knew no bounds. Riveting and heartbreaking! Easily five stars. .
‘Never before had the people of one nation offered assistance to those of another on such a grand scale’.
It does give one a new appreciation for the challenges faced by immigrants of that era. How easily the principal players spring to life! Robert Bennet Forbes was the ship’s captain, a man of extraordinary courage and determination. Easily equal in importance/magnitude was Father Theobald Mathew, devout and selfless, who initially dedicated his life to a temperance crusade, but ultimately shifted focus to caring for his desperate people/flock. His compassion for the fever ridden, starving masses knew no bounds. Riveting and heartbreaking! Easily five stars. .
June 22, 2020
Jumped on my bike to head up to the clubhouse for a workout where I encountered a neighbor who told me he was reading about someone named Forbes. "His name was Robert Bennett Forbes. The book is about the Irish famine in the mid 1800's and he was the first to pilot an American warship modified for humane purposes to deliver supplies. Quite a guy, made and lost millions and made them again before he was 40. Sailed the high seas at age 6. Made 3rd mate at age 15 and Captain for a Trans Atlantic trip at age 20, then later headed up the conversion of the Jamestown, fund raising and commanded the sailing to Ireland."
Certainly piqued my interest and by the time I finished my workout my neighbor returned to hand me the book. The other main character is an Irish priest named Matthews who fought for the starving peasants on the Irish end. The book is well researched, well written and quite interesting. Goes a bit farther into United Kingdom politics to explain the long time enmity between Ireland and England which exists to this day and the inept handling of famine relief has a lot to do with it. Also discussed is the experience in the U.S. of the early immigrants and the the development of the city of Boston.
I took extensive notes regarding Forbes's genealogy so hope to connect him as an uncle or whatever as most folks with that surname tie back into Scotland. Some interesting coincidences. Turns out Robert's birthday is the day before mine and his wife passed on that same day. The last voyage he was on ended in a collision and tragedy (not under his command but he was active in rescue efforts) was on a ship named "Europa" the same name we gave our Hunter Sloop that we used to berth in the Miami area. Also, one of the editors mentioned in the acknowledgements for her noteworthy work and promotion has my neighbor's name. Small world.
Certainly piqued my interest and by the time I finished my workout my neighbor returned to hand me the book. The other main character is an Irish priest named Matthews who fought for the starving peasants on the Irish end. The book is well researched, well written and quite interesting. Goes a bit farther into United Kingdom politics to explain the long time enmity between Ireland and England which exists to this day and the inept handling of famine relief has a lot to do with it. Also discussed is the experience in the U.S. of the early immigrants and the the development of the city of Boston.
I took extensive notes regarding Forbes's genealogy so hope to connect him as an uncle or whatever as most folks with that surname tie back into Scotland. Some interesting coincidences. Turns out Robert's birthday is the day before mine and his wife passed on that same day. The last voyage he was on ended in a collision and tragedy (not under his command but he was active in rescue efforts) was on a ship named "Europa" the same name we gave our Hunter Sloop that we used to berth in the Miami area. Also, one of the editors mentioned in the acknowledgements for her noteworthy work and promotion has my neighbor's name. Small world.
March 13, 2020
This book is an important book to read about the United States history of charitable contributions to other Nations.
It describes the event, the Irish Famine of 1847 and the call to provide relief to the Irish people. This call was answered by the young nation of the United States.
The people leading the charge was an Irish priest, Father Matthew and the sea captain/baron an American Robert Forbes.
People all over the United States donated money, clothing, and food for the USS Jamestown to take to the starving Irish.
I found most of the story interesting and I learned alot about how the blight of the potato decimated the Irish peasants...while still having food crops.
HOWEVER, I felt that the author went on tangents that did not enhance the story NOR did it enhance my learning. For instance, Father Matthew coming to the United States for a temperance movement.
Also, the shipwreck with Mr. Forbes after his command of the USS Jamestown.
The numerous times that the United States has employed charity from the Irish Famine till after World War II. These things bogged the story down and left me wondering why the author included them?!
Another note....when the author lists prices...for instance Mr Forbes inherited $16,000...is that in 1847 money or today's money? The author did not say and I was left confused to know if that was a lot of money or very little money.
Overall, there is a skinny book screaming to be let free from the over storytelling of this book.
It describes the event, the Irish Famine of 1847 and the call to provide relief to the Irish people. This call was answered by the young nation of the United States.
The people leading the charge was an Irish priest, Father Matthew and the sea captain/baron an American Robert Forbes.
People all over the United States donated money, clothing, and food for the USS Jamestown to take to the starving Irish.
I found most of the story interesting and I learned alot about how the blight of the potato decimated the Irish peasants...while still having food crops.
HOWEVER, I felt that the author went on tangents that did not enhance the story NOR did it enhance my learning. For instance, Father Matthew coming to the United States for a temperance movement.
Also, the shipwreck with Mr. Forbes after his command of the USS Jamestown.
The numerous times that the United States has employed charity from the Irish Famine till after World War II. These things bogged the story down and left me wondering why the author included them?!
Another note....when the author lists prices...for instance Mr Forbes inherited $16,000...is that in 1847 money or today's money? The author did not say and I was left confused to know if that was a lot of money or very little money.
Overall, there is a skinny book screaming to be let free from the over storytelling of this book.
December 22, 2022
This book is a WEALTH of information about the Irish Potato Famine and its causes, the relationship of Ireland to England, the massive humanitarian effort of the United States toward the Irish and a few other Irish historical tidbits as well.
The author, Stepeh Puleo, relied heavily on the memoirs/diaries of two key players. These two are James Robert Forbes, captain of the Jamestown and the Reverend Theobald Mathew, known best as Ireland’s “Temperance Priest,” and was the heroic and indomitable figure on the Irish side of the Atlantic, fighting—though mostly in vain—to save the lives of his starving countrymen...
Author Puleo was intent to share this thought:
"For some time, readers have asked me what historians a hundred years from now will do for source material since potential nonfiction characters no longer keep diaries or write letters, at least in great numbers. My answer: I’m glad I won’t be around to find out."
Other areas about which I learned:
Causes, Attitude of England, Largesse of the United States
Quote:
"What we are doing will be an example to be followed by some abroad who might shut their hearts to the calls of their neighbors—it will prove a seed sown in fruitful ground. —Jamestown captain Robert Bennet Forbes, writing in the Boston Post, March 17, 1847"
5 stars
The author, Stepeh Puleo, relied heavily on the memoirs/diaries of two key players. These two are James Robert Forbes, captain of the Jamestown and the Reverend Theobald Mathew, known best as Ireland’s “Temperance Priest,” and was the heroic and indomitable figure on the Irish side of the Atlantic, fighting—though mostly in vain—to save the lives of his starving countrymen...
Author Puleo was intent to share this thought:
"For some time, readers have asked me what historians a hundred years from now will do for source material since potential nonfiction characters no longer keep diaries or write letters, at least in great numbers. My answer: I’m glad I won’t be around to find out."
Other areas about which I learned:
Causes, Attitude of England, Largesse of the United States
Quote:
"What we are doing will be an example to be followed by some abroad who might shut their hearts to the calls of their neighbors—it will prove a seed sown in fruitful ground. —Jamestown captain Robert Bennet Forbes, writing in the Boston Post, March 17, 1847"
5 stars
January 25, 2020
Voyage of Mercy is a non fiction accounting of the humanitarian aid the US sent to Ireland during the famine in 1846. Mr. Puleo has poured through historical documents to bring us this bittersweet story. He introduces us to the key players, with plenty of background of who they were, why they took the actions they did, and we get a view of their lives. He has the facts and figures which he presents in a way that is interesting and furthers the story. Many English were surprised by the show Victoria when it revealed the story of the Irish famine, they had no idea that their country had treated Ireland so poorly or that so many died. All ages from young to old by the thousands, while England continued to demand exports. Many Americans can be proud of how our ancestors responded. The USS Jamestown was a retrofitted battleship on the first international humanitarian mission. People from across the US gave food, money, clothing and other supplies to be taken to Ireland in the hopes that it would relieve suffering. Up to this point, such action was seen as weak, but these people didn't care, they knew they lived in a bountiful land, and wanted to save lives. Thanks to #NetGalley for allowing me to review #VoyageofMercy and give my honest opinion, it was a very good book!!
September 22, 2022
I felt that the historical information provided was very interesting and worthwhile; and presented in an interesting way, however, the book did drag on and rehash the same points multiple times. Though it was hard to continue near the end, I was glad to have read it, as it provided a fascinating look into the US history of foreign aid, as well has the horrific imperial attitude of the British at that time.
July 25, 2023
A marvelous story of The Irish Potato Famine, it's causes and the effect on Irish/English/American relations.
The author used, for his research, the memoirs and diaries of 2 of the people who were most involved in sending aid and trying to save the Irish people. James Robert Forbes, a merchant and sea captain who cajoled the American government into supplying transport for food and relief to Ireland and the Reverend Theobald Mathew, a leading member of the temperance movement who fought, without care to himself, to save the Irish population.
A fascinating read for anyone who loves a good history of a time period and event.
The author used, for his research, the memoirs and diaries of 2 of the people who were most involved in sending aid and trying to save the Irish people. James Robert Forbes, a merchant and sea captain who cajoled the American government into supplying transport for food and relief to Ireland and the Reverend Theobald Mathew, a leading member of the temperance movement who fought, without care to himself, to save the Irish population.
A fascinating read for anyone who loves a good history of a time period and event.
March 15, 2024
I feel like this book could have been shorter but I did learn a lot, particularly about Father Mathew whose statue I used to pass every day on Patrick’s St in Cork City and never bothered to research, whoops. I also liked learning about how the United States, which was already tensing for the Civil War that would come years later, rallied together to provide relief for Ireland where the British government refused to step in to help its own subjects and in fact was largely responsible for the famine in the first place.
March 3, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC copy of this history from Netgalley, Stephen Puleo, and St. Martin's Press - History. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this work of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of Voyage to Mercy. Stephen Puleo is an author on my must-read shelves - he brings history alive.
Voyage of Mercy is the full story of the United States' first humanitarian mission - essentially the first humanitarian mission carried out by any country. And it is a history of the lives of two outstanding men - a Boston sea captain and lifelong sailor, Robert Bennet Forbes, and Catholic priest Theobald Mathew of Cork City, Ireland. These two men saved the lives of innumerable Irish men, women, and children, and opened the way for many others to carry on their work.
In 1847 glib-tongued Bennet Forbes talked the American military into loaning him a 157 foot, three-decker warship, the Jamestown (we were at war with Mexico at Veracruz at the time, so this was a minor miracle) and removed 20 of the 22 guns on the mid-deck to make room for donated foodstuff and clothing for the starving masses in Ireland. And he collected, from towns and individuals and farmers up and down the eastern seaboard and the Mississippi River farms, 8,000 barrels of foodstuff and crates of warm clothing. Forbes captained the crew, and the rest of the crewmen were volunteers. They set sail for Cove, in county Cork on March 27, 1847. Despite some problems - green crew, leaks, bad weather - they made the Irish shore in just fifteen days and three hours.
They were met by Father Mathew and a grateful, starving people. British help was too little, too late. Overlooking the fact that Ireland grew plenty in the way of grains and proteins to help themselves, their land had all been given over to British peers and was only rented to the farmers who husbanded it. All of those crops went immediately on harvest to England, to be sold on the world market. The potato crop was what the Irish ate, sold, traded for necessities and paid their rent on the land they farmed to their British landlords. With the partial failure of crops in 1846 and the complete failure of the potato crop in 1847, there were mass evictions, putting people out of their homes without warning. Over the winter of 1846-1847, the Irish population was dying in droves - of starvation, cholera, typhus, the 'fevers', and exposure. There were weeks just in Cove Town that Father Mathew buried as many as 300 souls. He fed, out of his home and his own pocket, as many as he could. And sadly, the western parts of Ireland and Scotland were in even worse shape than those coastal areas.
And the US just kept giving. Soon there were shiploads of foods being received in many of the port cities of Ireland, to be dispersed inland, and there was mass migration, mostly to Canada and the US. Boston saw 37,000 Irish immigrants arrive in'47, many ill, diseased and virtually all impoverished. Boston at that time had a population of only 115,000 and was quickly overwhelmed. New York, as well as other Atlantic coastal areas, did what they could. The last 20% of this story is a showcase of the growth of humanitarian assistance - what works, what doesn't, and how to begin the wheels turning in the face of catastrophe.
And that spirit of giving, of helping the downtrodden, still lives today. We need more Father Mathews to distribute the giving where it is needed, however. Haiti and Puerto Rico have been very expensive lessons in the improper art of aiding the downtrodden. And further afield, we have Serbia and Bosnia...
pub date March 3, 2020
St. Martin's Press History
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on March 1, 2020. Reviewed on AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo and GooglePlay on March 3, 2020.
Voyage of Mercy is the full story of the United States' first humanitarian mission - essentially the first humanitarian mission carried out by any country. And it is a history of the lives of two outstanding men - a Boston sea captain and lifelong sailor, Robert Bennet Forbes, and Catholic priest Theobald Mathew of Cork City, Ireland. These two men saved the lives of innumerable Irish men, women, and children, and opened the way for many others to carry on their work.
In 1847 glib-tongued Bennet Forbes talked the American military into loaning him a 157 foot, three-decker warship, the Jamestown (we were at war with Mexico at Veracruz at the time, so this was a minor miracle) and removed 20 of the 22 guns on the mid-deck to make room for donated foodstuff and clothing for the starving masses in Ireland. And he collected, from towns and individuals and farmers up and down the eastern seaboard and the Mississippi River farms, 8,000 barrels of foodstuff and crates of warm clothing. Forbes captained the crew, and the rest of the crewmen were volunteers. They set sail for Cove, in county Cork on March 27, 1847. Despite some problems - green crew, leaks, bad weather - they made the Irish shore in just fifteen days and three hours.
They were met by Father Mathew and a grateful, starving people. British help was too little, too late. Overlooking the fact that Ireland grew plenty in the way of grains and proteins to help themselves, their land had all been given over to British peers and was only rented to the farmers who husbanded it. All of those crops went immediately on harvest to England, to be sold on the world market. The potato crop was what the Irish ate, sold, traded for necessities and paid their rent on the land they farmed to their British landlords. With the partial failure of crops in 1846 and the complete failure of the potato crop in 1847, there were mass evictions, putting people out of their homes without warning. Over the winter of 1846-1847, the Irish population was dying in droves - of starvation, cholera, typhus, the 'fevers', and exposure. There were weeks just in Cove Town that Father Mathew buried as many as 300 souls. He fed, out of his home and his own pocket, as many as he could. And sadly, the western parts of Ireland and Scotland were in even worse shape than those coastal areas.
And the US just kept giving. Soon there were shiploads of foods being received in many of the port cities of Ireland, to be dispersed inland, and there was mass migration, mostly to Canada and the US. Boston saw 37,000 Irish immigrants arrive in'47, many ill, diseased and virtually all impoverished. Boston at that time had a population of only 115,000 and was quickly overwhelmed. New York, as well as other Atlantic coastal areas, did what they could. The last 20% of this story is a showcase of the growth of humanitarian assistance - what works, what doesn't, and how to begin the wheels turning in the face of catastrophe.
And that spirit of giving, of helping the downtrodden, still lives today. We need more Father Mathews to distribute the giving where it is needed, however. Haiti and Puerto Rico have been very expensive lessons in the improper art of aiding the downtrodden. And further afield, we have Serbia and Bosnia...
pub date March 3, 2020
St. Martin's Press History
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on March 1, 2020. Reviewed on AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo and GooglePlay on March 3, 2020.
October 13, 2020
I certainly knew of the potato famine but I was unaware of The Jamestown mission and the extent of the aide to Ireland by The United States. A great read for any history buff ...
February 17, 2021
3.5 stars. Having taken an Irish American literature class a couple years ago where we went into the history of the potato famine, and having ancestors from Ireland, I was looking forward to this. And it was informative. It had a bit of history on the famine, and highlighted the mission of the USS Jamestown as well as a couple other ships. However, I got bored with vast biographies of some of the people. For example, the work of Father Mathew in the Temperance Movement didn't seem to have little if any bearing on the relief work for the famine. And his work in the years after the famine. I wasn't sure if I was listening to a history of a humanitarian mission or a biography of Father Mathew or Captain Forbes, the captain of the Jamestown on its mission. For me, this detracted from the story in the title. However, the book is well researched, so it is informative, in many respects. If you go into it with that knowledge, you will likely enjoy it.
January 28, 2025
Fascinating story of compassion before America got “great again “.
April 29, 2023
Despite the heavy topic this was an uplifting book. I was unfamiliar with the story of the United States providing food to Ireland during the potato famine of 1847. It was the beginning of our country’s long history of providing aid to other nations. It was appalling to hear the details of the Irish suffering. Even worse was England’s stance that the famine was Irelands due. They intentionally withheld aide, and even added policies which made the tragedy worse.
But reading about the quick response of Americans and the outpouring of donations from people all across our nation was heartwarming. It was encouraging to be reminded of the good parts of humanity; particularly in the closing as the author shared other examples of the U.S. following that decision through the decades since then.
But reading about the quick response of Americans and the outpouring of donations from people all across our nation was heartwarming. It was encouraging to be reminded of the good parts of humanity; particularly in the closing as the author shared other examples of the U.S. following that decision through the decades since then.
March 23, 2020
My dear old grandmother (a culchie from Galway) used to tell us stories as children that 'all' the Irish had to eat back in those days was spuds, spuds & yet more spuds and with very, very little else apart from the occasional drop of the 'black-stuff' that the English never managed to get their thieving colonial hands on. So much so in fact that many of us even started to resemble potatoes (my brother used to get called potato-head at school) prompting my grandmother to often quote it was a "blessing in disguise" as the Irish wouldn't have invented the USA and the rest as they say is 'history' (or Irish Folk-law, I can't quite recall which)
Anyway! Where would the world be without the bat-shit-crazy Irish aye?...............cead mile failte.
Anyway! Where would the world be without the bat-shit-crazy Irish aye?...............cead mile failte.
August 1, 2023
One of my Irish ancestors came to America via a cattle boat to escape the harsh conditions of the potato famine in Ireland. I knew of the famine, but the author fleshed out so much more behind the scenes information. I was intrigued that this was America's first humanitarian mission. I recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject.
February 21, 2024
Well researched and well written book about two subjects I had never really learned about. The voyage of the Jamestown to help the Irish, and the work of the Cork priest Father Mathew. Especially found interesting the story of Mathew coming to US on a trip to garner support for worldwide temperance and getting embroiled in the slavery issue by Garrison. Pleasure to read this book. Lots of new info.
January 20, 2025
My rating does not reflect the author's ability to tell a story or the content. My rating reflects my mood. While I found myself going along easily with the narrative and learning more about the people involved in the potato famine, I didn't find myself interested in picking it up once I put it down. I just wasn't into this book.
March 6, 2025
This book took me quite awhile to finish because it seemed to go into such great depth about many details that the story progression seemed to slow down. However, it was very educational on the history of the Irish famine- causes, key people in rescuing and account of the mission. It was very intriguing to me that many people would help others they didn’t know at great cost to themselves.
May 24, 2021
4.25! So good, so well researched, balanced, and riveting. I teared up several times, not usually what happens with historical nonfiction.
November 16, 2025
Audiobook - this was a very interesting book about US and Irish history, maritime history and the sad stories of the famine victims.
October 7, 2023
I always love coming across a piece of history that's new to me. This was a heartbreaking, groundbreaking, inspiring and - as human history naturally is - complex story of the of the young U.S. government and private enterprise joining forces to help another country. Would definitely recommend.
April 11, 2022
A great history lesson about the Irish potato famine of 1847 and the humanitarian effort that set the stage for all other international aid since.
June 10, 2022
In a time when American aid to foreign countries is not just hoped for, but expected, Stephen Puleo's "Voyage of Mercy" looks at the origins of American global charity and brings a little hope to a country that seems to have lost its heart.
"Voyage of Mercy" tells the story of the first massive aid campaign in the United States, led by Forbes in the States and Father Matthew, a Catholic priest, in Ireland who conveyed and distributed tons of desperately needed food and clothing. Puleo really put the work into research for this book and presented it in a readable and interesting manner. Readers of Irish heritage or just those wanting something a little more optimistic should enjoy this book.
"Voyage of Mercy" tells the story of the first massive aid campaign in the United States, led by Forbes in the States and Father Matthew, a Catholic priest, in Ireland who conveyed and distributed tons of desperately needed food and clothing. Puleo really put the work into research for this book and presented it in a readable and interesting manner. Readers of Irish heritage or just those wanting something a little more optimistic should enjoy this book.
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