The Life of Nelson: The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great BritainAlfred 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. |
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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Common terms and phrases
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