David Glasgow Farragut

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The second volume of this authoritative biography examines the last ten years of David Glasgow Farragut’s life, focusing on the Civil War. Farragut’s courage was tried as much as the Confederate Navy as by gross inefficiency and waste in the conduct of war, lukewarm support of the Federal government, lack of cooperation between the Army and Navy, and poor morale caused by war weariness and disease. In the face of these challenges Farragut proved to be a resourceful leader and fighter whose loyalty to the Navy and his country proved him worthy of being America’s first admiral.

No admiral in America's Civil War fought with more distinction than David Glasgow Farragut, the first admiral of the U.S. Navy. Yet despite being considered by historians the most important American naval officer before World War II, no substantial biography of Farragut has been published in more than fifty years. Noted historian Chester Hearn's use of previously untapped family and archival records make this long-anticipated study worth waiting for. His history not only fully describes Farragut's extraordinary naval exploits but also his lifelong involvement with Capt. David Porter, his foster father, and David Dixon Porter, his foster brother - making this the most complete and illuminating picture ever assembled of one of America's greatest naval heroes. Focusing primarily on the Civil War, Hearn uses recently discovered family correspondence to detail Farragut's relationships with the elder Porter, who signed up Farragut as a seagoing midshipman in the U.S. Navy at the age of nine, and with Porter's son, the only other full admiral to emerge from the Civil War. Under the senior Porter's tutelage, Farragut by the age of thirteen had participated in more action during the War of 1812 than many of the Navy's senior officers. Farragut's legendary leadership is showcased in Hearn's thrilling description of the Battle of Mobile Bay. The author's detailed chronicle of Farragut's command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, crowned by the capture of New Orleans and Port Hudson, reestablishes Farragut's nearly forgotten legacy.

The first volume of Lewis’ masterful biography of David Glasgow Farragut’s long career in the U.S, Navy covers his life before the Civil War. Farragut served with Captain David Porter in the USS Essex; cruised in the Mediterranean; hunted pirates in the Caribbean; almost died of yellow fever; observed the French bombardment of Vera Cruz; sailed into Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Rio de Janeiro when revolution threatened those cities; fought in the Mexican War; and commanded the steam sloop of war Brooklyn. During these years he slowly rose from midshipman to captain, then to the highest rank in the United States Navy.

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Discover the man behind everyone's favorite call to action, "Full speed ahead!" in this inspiring and engaging biography about the first Admiral of the United States Navy, David Glasgow Farragut. At the age of nine, David Glasgow Farragut was appointed a midshipman in the US Navy by President James Madison. It was the start of a celebrated career. Farragut sailed aboard ships along the Delaware River, in the Caribbean, and across the Atlantic Ocean, even rounding the tip of South America, all while rising through the naval ranks from midshipman to admiral. When the Civil War began, Captain Farragut dedicated his life to protecting the United States as it was being torn in two. When President Lincoln asked him to capture New Orleans, the city Farragut once called home, and later to take Mobile Bay, the officer had only one order for his fleet: Full speed ahead! Noted nonfiction writer Louise Borden's in-depth research uncovers a man dedicated to his country -- a man who earned the title of America's first admiral.