The History of the Navy of the United States of America; Vol. 1 only

Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1839. Presumed First Edition. Hardcover. Fair. xxxvi,37-394, [4] pages. Frontis map. Footnotes. Appendix. Cover has wear and soiling. Some foxing noted. This volume has a bookplate indicating that this volume belonged to a group of books from the library of Stuart Miller Crocker, Trustee of Milton Academy, which had been given to the Library of Milton Academy in his memory and that of John F. Crocker, '34, and Frederick S. Barbour, '49, and was subsequently released. Ink notation on fep. James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 - September 14, 1851) was an American writer. His historical romances depicting frontier and Native American life from the 17th to the 19th centuries created a unique form of American literature. He lived much of his life in Cooperstown, New York, which was founded by his father William Cooper. Cooper served in the U.S. Navy as a midshipman, where he learned the technology of managing sailing vessels which greatly influenced many of his novels and other writings. The novel that launched his career was The Spy, a tale about espionage set during the American Revolutionary War and published in 1821. His best-known works are five historical novels of the frontier period known as the Leatherstocking Tales, which introduced the iconic American frontier scout, Natty Bumppo. Cooper's works on the U.S. Navy have been well received among naval historians. Among his most famous works is The Last of the Mohicans, often regarded as his masterpiece. During his career, he published numerous social, political, and historical works of fiction and nonfiction with the objective of nurturing an original American culture. His historical account of the U.S. Navy was well received. Cooper had begun thinking about this massive project in 1824, and concentrated on its research in the late 1830s. His close association with the U.S. Navy and various officers, and his familiarity with naval life at sea provided him the background and connections to research and write this work. Cooper's work is said to have stood the test of time and is considered an authoritative account of the U.S. Navy during that time. Cooper had a keen and considerably academic interest in naval affairs, probably springing in part from his naval service as a young man. This resulted in several minor works and a few major ones, of which this, tracing the American force from pre-Revolutionary origins to the end of the war of 1812, is the most significant. This important work describes all the wars, battles, and sea engagements of American warships from the Revolutionary War and late 18th-century covering the Battle at Tripoli and important battles in the War of 1812.