Tripoli: The United States' First War on Terror

THE TRUE STORY OF WILLIAM EATON AND THE UNITED STATES’ FIRST ATTEMPT AT REGIME CHANGE

April 27, 1805. The impasse in the four-year war between the Barbary pirate state of Tripoli and the United States is about to be broken. William Eaton has led his ragtag army of Greeks, Arabs, and U.S. Marines across five hundred grueling miles of sun-scorched desert from Alexandria, Egypt, to Tripoli’s heavily defended port fortress of Derna. Outnumbered ten to one, the exhausted, thirsty men carry out Eaton’s daring charge on the pirate fortress–and enter the history books and anthem of the U.S. Marines.

David Smethurst vividly chronicles America’s Barbary War and the pivotal role of William Eaton–firebrand, soldier, and statesman. From the former army captain’s appointment as consul to the Barbary Coast in 1799 to the enemy’s capture of the USS Pennsylvania and her three hundred sailors to Eaton’s valiant attack and its stunning aftermath, Tripoli is a fascinating tale of polished diplomacy, raw heroism, and a man as fearless and independent as the young nation he represented.

David Smethurst has held a variety of editorial and writing positions, and has worked at Outside magazine, City Sports magazine, and the Tufts Observer. His articles have appeared in Outside, Runner’s World, and Parenting. Smethurst earned a Ph.D. in geography from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Since 1999, Smethurst has worked in the high technology sector. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two daughters. This is his first book.