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Master of Sea Power: A Biography of Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King
December 1941. Washington was in turmoil. The Japanese had smashed the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor and were swarming across the Far East. Germany and Italy had joined their Axis partner in declaring war against the United States. Shock and confusion paralyzed the American high command. Staggered by the ferocity of the Japanese blows, the Navy desperately groped for leadership and direction. President Roosevelt turned to a tough, brilliant, and controversial officer. Admiral Ernest J. King, appointing him Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, and Chief of Naval Operations.
Only two years before, King had been passed over for higher command because — it was said — he drank too much, chased other men's wives, and made too many enemies. Why, then, did Roosevelt elevate him to become the most powerful naval officer in history? According to legend, King had a simple answer: "When they get into trouble they send for the sons-of-bitches."
Through almost four terrible years of war, King directed the operations of the United States Navy across the seven seas, landing Allied armies around the world and destroying Japan's might in the Pacific. Always coolly reserved and taciturn, King would have been content to announce victory with two words — "We won" — and to say no more. In this engrossing story of the boy from Lorain, Ohio, who rose to command his country's navy in its greatest hour, Buell has described the strategy and the anguish, the sacrifices and commitment behind that victory.
Ernest J. King became the first American naval officer to wear five stars and carry the rank and title Fleet Admiral. In this first and long-awaited biography, Thomas B. Buell, drawing on material not previously available, reveals Fleet Admiral King as a man of complexity and contradictions. His life consecrated the art of war. King was a grand strategist at Allied conferences from Casablanca to Teheran as well as supreme commander of a huge and puissant navy. The reader will discover King as counselor to Roosevelt — adversary of Churchill — and the sole advocate among the Combined Chiefs of Staff for carrying the war to Japan despite the "Germany First" policy of the Allied leadership. Measuring King against other great captains — including Marshall and Alanbrooke — Buell provides a reasoned and fascinating assessment of King's true place in the history of World War II, revealing him at his best and his worst. Both scholarly and readable, Master of Sea Power is a splendid contribution to the literature of the Second World War.
Only two years before, King had been passed over for higher command because — it was said — he drank too much, chased other men's wives, and made too many enemies. Why, then, did Roosevelt elevate him to become the most powerful naval officer in history? According to legend, King had a simple answer: "When they get into trouble they send for the sons-of-bitches."
Through almost four terrible years of war, King directed the operations of the United States Navy across the seven seas, landing Allied armies around the world and destroying Japan's might in the Pacific. Always coolly reserved and taciturn, King would have been content to announce victory with two words — "We won" — and to say no more. In this engrossing story of the boy from Lorain, Ohio, who rose to command his country's navy in its greatest hour, Buell has described the strategy and the anguish, the sacrifices and commitment behind that victory.
Ernest J. King became the first American naval officer to wear five stars and carry the rank and title Fleet Admiral. In this first and long-awaited biography, Thomas B. Buell, drawing on material not previously available, reveals Fleet Admiral King as a man of complexity and contradictions. His life consecrated the art of war. King was a grand strategist at Allied conferences from Casablanca to Teheran as well as supreme commander of a huge and puissant navy. The reader will discover King as counselor to Roosevelt — adversary of Churchill — and the sole advocate among the Combined Chiefs of Staff for carrying the war to Japan despite the "Germany First" policy of the Allied leadership. Measuring King against other great captains — including Marshall and Alanbrooke — Buell provides a reasoned and fascinating assessment of King's true place in the history of World War II, revealing him at his best and his worst. Both scholarly and readable, Master of Sea Power is a splendid contribution to the literature of the Second World War.
609 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
65 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Thomas B. Buell
7 books2 followersA 1958 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Thomas Buell served as a destroyerman throughout much of his career in the Navy. Buell taught in the history department of the Military Academy at West Point from 1975 until 1979, and, following his retirement from naval service in 1979, worked in the defense industry for the Honeywell Corporation and Rosemont Company in Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 8, 2025
After reading biographies of Admirals Spruance, Nimitz and Leahy I felt it was time to go to the top, and read the biography of Admiral King who was Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet in World War II
Admiral King was an interesting character to say the least; he was regarded as scary, yet at the same time could be kind. He was a disciplinarian but personally he seems to have been a womanizer and a drinker, he loved parties. I love this quote from the book “King’s bluntness went to extremes, because of his sense of self-righteousness and an undisciplined temper. Tact and discretion too often lost out to emotional excesses, especially in his early career. Together with his intellectual arrogance and lack of humility, King simply considered that he had more brains than anyone else in the Navy and acted accordingly.” And after reading this book I’m inclined to agree, he was usually right.
There is a myth that Admiral King hated the British, this book provides no proof of that, he liked Dudley Pound and respected Admiral Cunningham even though they clashed a lot. I don’t think King cared either way about the British; he concentrated on doing his job.
I preferred Admiral Spruance’s biography by the same author, I think because Spruance was closer to the action, and seemed much more likeable as a person. This one was still a fascinating read about one of the most contradictory of the US Admirals, Halsey is next up.
Admiral King was an interesting character to say the least; he was regarded as scary, yet at the same time could be kind. He was a disciplinarian but personally he seems to have been a womanizer and a drinker, he loved parties. I love this quote from the book “King’s bluntness went to extremes, because of his sense of self-righteousness and an undisciplined temper. Tact and discretion too often lost out to emotional excesses, especially in his early career. Together with his intellectual arrogance and lack of humility, King simply considered that he had more brains than anyone else in the Navy and acted accordingly.” And after reading this book I’m inclined to agree, he was usually right.
There is a myth that Admiral King hated the British, this book provides no proof of that, he liked Dudley Pound and respected Admiral Cunningham even though they clashed a lot. I don’t think King cared either way about the British; he concentrated on doing his job.
I preferred Admiral Spruance’s biography by the same author, I think because Spruance was closer to the action, and seemed much more likeable as a person. This one was still a fascinating read about one of the most contradictory of the US Admirals, Halsey is next up.
February 23, 2019
The irascible "Uncle Ernie" was among the most interesting flag rank officers of World War II who allegedly shaved with a blowtorch. When he was tabbed to take command of the American Navy in 1941 he said, "When the going gets tough they send for the sons a bitches." Buell does a great job in fleshing him out. Although I read the book years ago, one revelation that sticks with me is that King refused to read anything submitted to him if it was longer than one page. That forced submitters to be succinct, which was likely his goal. Another part I remember years after reading the book is that, when he was captain of Lexington, King opened a window on the bridge and chewed out aviators who made poor landings. And if anyone was going up a ladder when King was coming down (or vice versa) he was expected to back off and let King have the right of way.
I would have hated serving under King, but he was the right man to be in charge of the Navy during World War II.
I would have hated serving under King, but he was the right man to be in charge of the Navy during World War II.
December 24, 2012
Buell does a great job with a difficult subject. King was every inch a sonofabitch. He shaped the wartime US Navy into the largest, most powerful force the world has ever seen. King comes across as a man who had little time or tolerance for bullshit. He also comes across as a boss who was loyal to his best subordinates, even if they disagreed with him. All in all King is seriously underrated for his role in the war.
January 1, 2021
Glad we had Admiral King on our side!
Having read the biography of General George C. Marshall, I was happy to see this author point out the contrasting positions taken by the Navy via Admiral King. While just about everyone else wanted the US to fight an entirely defensive battle in the Pacific until Hitler was defeated, King pushed hard to go on the offensive early and continuously. Can you believe the Combined Chiefs of Staff were willing to let Australia fall to the Japanese while they focused on Germany? King had his flaws which the author pointed out, but his strengths saved American lives in the war in the Pacific. If you want another viewpoint about WW2 including some interesting stories about the other leaders in the war, this book can do it.
Having read the biography of General George C. Marshall, I was happy to see this author point out the contrasting positions taken by the Navy via Admiral King. While just about everyone else wanted the US to fight an entirely defensive battle in the Pacific until Hitler was defeated, King pushed hard to go on the offensive early and continuously. Can you believe the Combined Chiefs of Staff were willing to let Australia fall to the Japanese while they focused on Germany? King had his flaws which the author pointed out, but his strengths saved American lives in the war in the Pacific. If you want another viewpoint about WW2 including some interesting stories about the other leaders in the war, this book can do it.
September 13, 2021
I gave this an above average rating because its one of the few biographies of one of USA's most important military leaders in WW 2. Not much has been written about him, and all we get from the other WW 2 books is that he was an "anglophobe" or "Tough as Nails" or hard to get along with. This book provides some much needed detail and personal background.
Buell gives us some surprising facts, like:
1) George Marshall forced King to circle the airfield on the way to Casablanca in Jan 1943, so Marshall could land first. It seems Marshall "out-ranked" King, and Marshall insisted that his airplane land first.
2) Henry Stimson and King both disliked each other intensely.
3) King wasn't really sold on Sledgehammer in 1942, but loyally supported Marshall in July 1942, because he wanted the Army's help in the upcoming Guadalcanal invasion.
4) Although King was grateful to FDR for promoting him, he regarded FDR as a "slippery customer" who couldn't be counted on to tell the truth.
5) King thought the USSR would do 9/10 of the fighting against Germany, and focused on the Pacific War after the Invasion of North Africa.
6) The lack of convoys on the US Coast in 1942 was due to a lack of destroyers and was directly traceable to FDR's refusal to build DE's prior to Pearl Harbor. In fact, even in 1942, FDR gave shipping and Landing craft priority. The result is only 50 DE's were laid down before Nov 1st, 1942.
7) King didn't think the invasion of Japan was necessary and dubious about the A-Bomb. In his opinion Blockade and conventional bombing were enough.
8) FDR's Unconditional Surrender policy was idiotic - per King. But he didn't consider it his place to push the matter.
So, the book has plenty to chew on. Strangely, King's hatred of MacArthur is never explained or discussed. His dislike for the General was so uncontrollable, that Marshall had to rebuke him in JSC meetings several times. Yet Buell says nothing. Nor does he go into King's so-called "anglo-phobia".
Buell gives us some surprising facts, like:
1) George Marshall forced King to circle the airfield on the way to Casablanca in Jan 1943, so Marshall could land first. It seems Marshall "out-ranked" King, and Marshall insisted that his airplane land first.
2) Henry Stimson and King both disliked each other intensely.
3) King wasn't really sold on Sledgehammer in 1942, but loyally supported Marshall in July 1942, because he wanted the Army's help in the upcoming Guadalcanal invasion.
4) Although King was grateful to FDR for promoting him, he regarded FDR as a "slippery customer" who couldn't be counted on to tell the truth.
5) King thought the USSR would do 9/10 of the fighting against Germany, and focused on the Pacific War after the Invasion of North Africa.
6) The lack of convoys on the US Coast in 1942 was due to a lack of destroyers and was directly traceable to FDR's refusal to build DE's prior to Pearl Harbor. In fact, even in 1942, FDR gave shipping and Landing craft priority. The result is only 50 DE's were laid down before Nov 1st, 1942.
7) King didn't think the invasion of Japan was necessary and dubious about the A-Bomb. In his opinion Blockade and conventional bombing were enough.
8) FDR's Unconditional Surrender policy was idiotic - per King. But he didn't consider it his place to push the matter.
So, the book has plenty to chew on. Strangely, King's hatred of MacArthur is never explained or discussed. His dislike for the General was so uncontrollable, that Marshall had to rebuke him in JSC meetings several times. Yet Buell says nothing. Nor does he go into King's so-called "anglo-phobia".
November 1, 2013
Very interesting. King has been criticised for being difficult to get on with, but there is little doubt he was the right man, in the right place, at the right time during WWII.
Buell's anecdotes are a highlight. His account of King's brief meeting with Stalin at Yalta on pages 486-487 will appeal to all lovers of black humour!
Buell's anecdotes are a highlight. His account of King's brief meeting with Stalin at Yalta on pages 486-487 will appeal to all lovers of black humour!
April 23, 2020
I thought I would hate reading this book about Admiral King. But I wanted to read it because he was such an important figure throughout WWII.
However, to my surprise, I quite enjoyed the book. It was well written and moved along well, even over slow parts which the author kept brief.
King was the acerbic, SOB, everyone said he was. However, he also seems to have been hard working, caring, dedicated, and a family man. He seems like the kind of person you only hear then unfortunately bad things about.
Again, I was very surprised as I expected him to be more like General Patton, who I did not like reading about very much, for a variety of reasons.
His contributions to the war and the navy are truly impressive. It's definitely worth reading in your interested in WWII.
However, to my surprise, I quite enjoyed the book. It was well written and moved along well, even over slow parts which the author kept brief.
King was the acerbic, SOB, everyone said he was. However, he also seems to have been hard working, caring, dedicated, and a family man. He seems like the kind of person you only hear then unfortunately bad things about.
Again, I was very surprised as I expected him to be more like General Patton, who I did not like reading about very much, for a variety of reasons.
His contributions to the war and the navy are truly impressive. It's definitely worth reading in your interested in WWII.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2022
Naval historian, Commander Thomas Buell produced the biography of Fleet Admiral Ernest King. Buell delves into warts and all aspects of Fleet Admiral King, his prickly relationship with the media, colleagues, etc. Buell also vividly portrays Admiral King's love of the United States Navy and his mono-focused protection of such. This is still the reference most used when Admiral King is discussed or written about over forty years after publication.
November 7, 2023
Did he really shave with a blow-torch? That’s probably the only question this well-written biography of the US’ Navy’s senior leader during WWII fails to answer.
January 26, 2025
A larger than life man in a place and at a time when he was desperately needed.
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
June 27, 2021
While this book was well written I can't say it really changed my mind about Adm. King except I came to see him as a man well-prepared for the role he would play in World War II.
May 3, 2017
A surprisingly interesting book on ADM King's career, with a focus on his role throughout WWII. I'd previously read books on ADM Spruance & Halsey and thought of them as incredibly high level pictures of the Navy's actions in the Pacific theater during WWII, so an understanding of their boss's boss seemed like an essential read. I suppose I knew that both members worked for Nimitz who worked for King, I was still surprised to find that there could be an even higher level/bigger picture view of the Navy's role in the war. Reading The Quiet Warrior on ADM Spruance, I couldn't believe that he commanded 1,000 ships for his assault on Okinawa. Considering that the modern day US Navy has 300 ships, I didn't think it could get more impressive than commanding 1,000 ship. It turns out that ADM King oversaw the an 8,000 ship Navy. Pretty amazing, and probably never to be seen again in the days of fewer, but more capable ships.
Though it's hard to relate to the man ADM King was, it's hard not to respect the results he produced.
It's a fairly obscure topic to the average reader I suppose, which is unfortunate because the book was well researched and written, and a surprisingly quick read.
Though it's hard to relate to the man ADM King was, it's hard not to respect the results he produced.
It's a fairly obscure topic to the average reader I suppose, which is unfortunate because the book was well researched and written, and a surprisingly quick read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews