The Life of Nelson: The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain

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Cambridge University Press, Feb 17, 2011 - Biography & Autobiography - 526 pages
Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) was an American naval officer, considered one of the most important naval strategists of the nineteenth century. In 1885 he was appointed Lecturer in Naval History and Tactics at the US Naval War College, and served as President of the institution between 1886 and 1889. In this highly influential two-volume biography, first published in 1897, Mahan focuses on Nelson's professional life and provides a detailed historical and tactical analysis of his naval career based on Nelson's personal correspondence. Through this analysis Mahan also explains and explores his concept of 'sea power', a strategic concept which was closely studied and subsequently adopted by early twentieth-century military powers. His book provides both a fascinating discussion of Nelson's achievements and an invaluable analysis of the most influential developments in naval strategy almost a century after Nelson's death. Volume 1 covers Nelson's career up to 1799.
 

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Contents

CHAPTER L
1
Anecdotes of childhood
7
Cruise to the East Indies
14
Transferred to the flagship Bristol
20
The Nicaragua Expedition
26
Short trip to the Baltic
33
Sentiments concerning honor and money
40
Cruise op the Boreas Controversy over the Enforce
44
Nelson plans an assault on Leghorn
239
His pride in the British fleet
244
He superintends the evacuation of Bastia
251
His home relations
257
Deliberate reconnoissance of the enemys coast
263
Rejoins Jervis off Cape St Vincent
268
His merit in taking it
272
Comments upon this
280

Refuses to recognize a commodores pendant of a captain
50
Refuses obedience to the Admirals order as illegal
57
Results of his action
63
Progress of courtship
71
Employed on the Impress Service
77
Breadth and acuteness of intellect
83
Nelsons difference with Lord Hood
89
Appointed to the Agamemnon 64
95
Nelsons hatred for the French
101
Toulon surrendered to the British and Spaniards
107
Sent to Tunis
113
Operations begun at San Fiorenzo
119
Nelsons military character as shown by his opinion
125
Inadequate credit from Hood
131
Arrival off Calvi
137
Feeling between Hood and Moore
143
Progress of the siege
147
Compliment from the Viceroy of Corsica
154
He rejoins the fleet
160
Characteristics displayed by Nelson
165
Discussion of Hothams action
169
Regret at Hoods detachment from command
175
Nelsons dissatisfaction with it
180
Nelsons political courage
189
Discussion of this proposal
195
Battle of Loano Defeat of the Austrians
201
Correspondence with home
207
Nelsons Services in the Mediterranean during the Year
210
Coincidence of views between Nelson and Jervis
216
He hoists his broad pendant as Commodore
220
His activity difficulties encountered and plans
226
The French seize Leghorn
233
Cruises for treasureships from Mexico
286
Sent by Jems to escort them to Gibraltar
288
General good health and happiness
294
Failure of the first attempt
300
Nelson loses his right arm
305
Restoration to health
309
Relations with his wife while in England
316
The British Cabinet decides to take the offensive
319
Nelsons flagship the Vanguard dismasted at sea
323
Attitude of Naples
329
The light of the single eye
335
Again goes east in search of the French
342
Steadiness and caution of Nelsons advance
347
Nelson severely wounded
351
Nelsons dissatisfaction with the results
356
Nelsons rewards
362
Recovery from wound
368
Previous career of Lady Hamilton
373
Her political influence in Naples
383
He urges Naples to declare war against France
389
Sails for Naples 366
392
The royal family and Court fly to Palermo
395
The Sidney Smith mission
400
His expectations of Russian assistance
406
Deep depressio n of spirits
412
CHAPTER XIII
418
Distress at St Vincents intention to go home
424
Resolves to go to Naples with the squadron
428
Nelsons powers as representative of the King of Naples
429
The Caracciolo incident
437
His profound attachment to the royal family of Jfaples
443
Discussion of this incident
449

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About the author (2011)

Alfred Thayer Mahan was born on September 27, 1840 at West Point, New York, where his father was a professor of Civil and Military Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1859 and embarked on a nearly 40-year naval career seeing duty in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico against the Confederacy. He taught briefly at Annapolis, but spent most of his academic career at the newly founded Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he eventually served as president. He wrote twenty books during his lifetime including The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783; The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire, 1793-1812; The Interest of America in Sea Power, Present and Future; The Life of Nelson; and The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence. He died on December 1, 1914.