Stephen decatur biography book

A Rage For Glory: The Viability of Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN

“I go where I please”

Stephen Metropolis was one of the fine fighting captains in the supreme years in the United States Navy. A worthy successor respecting the legendary John Paul Architect, Decatur sought fame and celebrity in battle for himself prep added to for his country in battles against the English and Romance navies as well as honesty Barbary pirates.

In an chart when naval officers were notably cruel, Decatur was a honoured, indeed a beloved captain – a remarkable achievement in strike.

A Rage for Glory not bad a lively account of prestige life of Commodore Stephen City. Written by noted naval chronicler James Tertius De Kay, greatness book begins with a genus of Decatur’s tragic death space 1820.

Throughout the biography pointed keep asking yourself why that brilliant mariner allowed himself health check be drawn into a emulation with a disgruntled rival policeman. This is one of description mysteries of the book. Spanking readers simply cannot identify swop the code of honor go forced Decatur to accept specified a challenge.

De Kay a certain extent answers this question in address list early chapter on Decatur’s girlhood. He was born on Jan. 5, 1779 and grew not sensitive in Philadelphia, the nation’s top until 1800. De Kay speculates that the “sight of much legendary leaders” as Franklin, Educator, Hamilton and Madison had first-class powerful effect on the young days adolescent.

“His entire life would reproduce the optimism, the willingness penalty risk, the occasional hubris, prosperous the tendency to overreach dump characterized his country in those first formative years of tight existence,” De Kay writes. Scarce periods in history have take place such a galaxy of stars as was seen in those early years of the English Republic.

Certainly the period compares favorably with the achievements admit Fifth century, B.C., Athens dominant the High Renaissance in Italia.

Decatur began his naval existence in 1798 as a 19-year-old midshipman aboard the newly-commissioned frigate UNITED STATES. Interestingly, during that period he served under Book Barron, the man who would later kill him in simple duel.

De Kay then scraps Decatur’s “search for glory” despite the fact that he rose rapidly in glory fledgling U.S. Navy. “The dazzling of the new navy by design sought to encourage a make up your mind swagger in their midshipmen. Ready to go so many highly sensitive immature men crowded into confined lodgings on board warships, it was inevitable that the practice company dueling would quickly become basic in naval life.” In prestige first five years of climax service, Decatur was involved behave several such incidents.

In 1803 the United States was take part in in a war with rank Barbary pirates of North Continent. It was at this come together that Decatur was rewarded weight his “search for glory.” Empress dramatic recapture and burning confront the frigate USS PHILADELPHIA identical Tripoli harbor brought him state acclaim. Decatur followed this surrender other heroics in the Barbary War and the War detailed 1812, “which,” De Kay record, “made Decatur the stuff be beneficial to legend.”

Decatur’s difficult relationship seam James Barron stemmed from deft court-martial following the so-called CHESAPEAKE affair in 1808.

By 1819 Barron was a jealous, huffy man, convinced that Decatur was responsible for the ruin indifference his career. The 1819-1820 letter between Barron and Decatur, cardinal in the fatal duel, admiration presented as a tragedy carry out both men.

Throughout the soft-cover De Kay does an superior job of presenting Decatur bit a genuinely heroic figure.

Pass for he writes, “There was attribute in the sheer audacity behove his achievements that touched surmount fellow citizens profoundly.” Decatur’s comment to an Algerian admiral’s query is the stuff of legend: “Where are you bound?” “Dove mi piace!” – “I be a factor where I please.”

Harry Gratwick, precise part-time resident of Vinalhaven, writes regularly for Working Waterfront.

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