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A Gentlemanly and Honorable Profession: The Creation of the U.S. Naval Officer Corps, 1794-1815
In 1793 the United States had no semblance of a navy—neither warships nor personnel— yet by 1815 the young nation could claim a highly competent and professional officer corps with an astonishing number of naval victories to its credit. What kind of men were able to develop such an effective fighting force in such a brief period?
To find out, Christopher McKee spent twenty years compiling data on the 2,900 officers who served in the U.S. Navy between its establishment in 1794 and the end of the War of 1812. From the vast holdings of the National Archives, including the previously unused files of the accountant of the navy, and private letters, journals, and other papers located around the country, he sought information about their parents, their education, the reasons for their joining of the navy, their fitness evaluations, and numerous other details of their careers. The result of his research, recorded here, provides a fascinating historical narrative of the officers who formed America's fledgling navy at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Unlike most histories that focus on top officials and well-known celebrities, this book allows the personalities of neglected men to emerge and assume importance. Memorable new naval heroes walk through these pages. Captains Alexander Murray and Hugh G. Campbell are discovered as master teachers of young officers, Thomas Turner, accountant of the navy, is applauded for his efforts at fighting fraud and the misappropriation of public money. And, thanks to the diaries and letters of midshipmen, the rowdiness of life in the steerage can be fully appreciated.
Rich in anecdote and example, the book covers the many complex social forces that helped shape early naval life, It reveals how a rigid class structure separated officers from their men and from each other; how a few became rich from prize-taking while many others were burdened with crushing debts; how alcohol abuse was a major threat to the corps; and how corporal punishment was used and abused to maintain discipline.
Unstinting in its scholarship yet written with wry wit, this unique portrait of the men who created the U.S. Navy adds a valuable new dimension to military history and in the process sheds significant light on American society and culture during the early national period.
To find out, Christopher McKee spent twenty years compiling data on the 2,900 officers who served in the U.S. Navy between its establishment in 1794 and the end of the War of 1812. From the vast holdings of the National Archives, including the previously unused files of the accountant of the navy, and private letters, journals, and other papers located around the country, he sought information about their parents, their education, the reasons for their joining of the navy, their fitness evaluations, and numerous other details of their careers. The result of his research, recorded here, provides a fascinating historical narrative of the officers who formed America's fledgling navy at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Unlike most histories that focus on top officials and well-known celebrities, this book allows the personalities of neglected men to emerge and assume importance. Memorable new naval heroes walk through these pages. Captains Alexander Murray and Hugh G. Campbell are discovered as master teachers of young officers, Thomas Turner, accountant of the navy, is applauded for his efforts at fighting fraud and the misappropriation of public money. And, thanks to the diaries and letters of midshipmen, the rowdiness of life in the steerage can be fully appreciated.
Rich in anecdote and example, the book covers the many complex social forces that helped shape early naval life, It reveals how a rigid class structure separated officers from their men and from each other; how a few became rich from prize-taking while many others were burdened with crushing debts; how alcohol abuse was a major threat to the corps; and how corporal punishment was used and abused to maintain discipline.
Unstinting in its scholarship yet written with wry wit, this unique portrait of the men who created the U.S. Navy adds a valuable new dimension to military history and in the process sheds significant light on American society and culture during the early national period.
- GenresNaval History
624 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 26, 2013
This is the bible for understanding how the Old Navy officer corps worked (and how it didn't). It doesn't get better than this, so if you like the early American navy, I don't know why you aren't hunting a copy down and reading it RIGHT NOW. It's only 600 pages, so what are you waiting for?
That said, I have to admit that every time I read a description of a Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin portrait (DEAR GOD I THINK HE DREW THEM ALL) in which the author imputed some sort of innate characteristic like bravery, cowardice, cruelty, or impecuniousness, I wanted to bop the esteemed Mr. McKee on the head with my highlighted-in-four-colors and tabbed-for-future-reference copy. Because sometimes a weak chin is really just a matter of genetics.
That said, I have to admit that every time I read a description of a Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin portrait (DEAR GOD I THINK HE DREW THEM ALL) in which the author imputed some sort of innate characteristic like bravery, cowardice, cruelty, or impecuniousness, I wanted to bop the esteemed Mr. McKee on the head with my highlighted-in-four-colors and tabbed-for-future-reference copy. Because sometimes a weak chin is really just a matter of genetics.
July 28, 2022
Incredible source of information on the makeup of the early navy. Well researched and clearly a remarkable achievement.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews