The Life and Character of Stephen Decatur: Late Commodore and Post-Captain in the Navy of the United States, and Navy-Commissioner, Interspersed With . and Achievements of the American Navy

The Life And Character Of Stephen Decatur: Late Commodore And Post-Captain In The Navy Of The United States, And Navy-Commissioner, Interspersed With Brief Notices Of The Origin, Progress, And Achievements Of The American Navy by Samuel Putnam Waldo. This biography traces the life of Stephen Decatur from his birth on the Maryland Eastern Shore through his rise in the United States Navy, his celebrated actions in the Mediterranean against the Barbary powers, including the destruction of the Philadelphia and the daring exploits of the Intrepid, his service in the War of 1812, and his rise to Navy Commissioner. The work interleaves sketches of contemporaries such as Bainbridge, Porter, Lawrence, and Macdonough, and provides a compact overview of the early American Navy, its institutions, and its discipline. It blends narrative with documentary detail, including later additions and the Navy List, to present a portrait of a pivotal figure in American maritime history and the development of national naval power.