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The Uss Essex and the Birth of the American Navy: And the Birth of the American Navy | 
 enlarge | Authors: Frances Diane Robotti, James Vescovi
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $6.45
You Save: $16.50 (72%)
New (7) Used (8) from $5.10
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 845309
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 302
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 0841218161
Dewey Decimal Number: 359.8320973
EAN: 9780841218161
ASIN: B000Y4OBNE
Publication Date: May 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The USS Essex, a thirty-two gun frigate built in 1799 by the merchants of Salem, was known around the world for her speed and graceful lines, achieving a brilliant series of dramatic firsts for the young American Navy. She became the first U.S. war ship to round the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean. Thirteen years later, the Essex became the first American man-of-war to round the Horn into the Pacific, where her crew fought-and lost-one of the bloodiest sea battles in U.S. History. A list of her commanders-Edward Preble, William Bainbridge, James Barron, and David Porter-reads like a who's who of the early American Navy. David Farragut served as a midshipman before achieving fame as the first rear admiral of the US Navy. The Essex's most important role, however was in promoting and protecting the interests of the United States throughout the world. By the late 1790s, the young country was emerging from its colonial dependence on Europe into a global commercial presence and a budding world power in its own right. Its future growth depended on international trade, and that trade depended, in turn, on unimpeded access to the sea. The history of the Essex is both a stirring nautical adventure and an engaging look at an important turning point in the history of the young American nation.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 The Beginning of a Great Tradition October 16, 2007
Michael E. Hill (Neptune, NJ USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"The USS Essex and the Birth of the American Navy" by Robotti and Vescovi chronicles the history of that illustrious ship in the fledging United States Navy.
Prior to the Revolutionary War, the maritime commerce of the American colonies was protected by the British Navy. Of course with the revolution that changed. The huge American merchant marine needed protection of a Navy.
Built of the superior Massachusetts white oak, the Essex was a 32 gun frigate financed by the people of Salem, Massachusetts. Salem's economy was based on the maritime industry. It's civilian vessels needed the protection of the Essex and her sister U.S. naval vessels.
Most of her career, the vessel showed the flag around the world. It played a key role in the war with the Barbary States in north Africa. It's commanding officers are an illustrious who's who in the early navy including Edward Preble, Isaac Hull, William Bainbridge, James Barron and David Porter.
The War of 1812 (except for the Battle of New Orleans) was a disgrace for the United States Army. However it was the United States Navy that shocked the world. While greatly outnumbered, the U.S. Navy was highly effective. In most battles, no British frigate could fight one-on-one with their American counterparts.
The USS Essex was no exception. Under David Porter, it successfully navigated around the Horn and had a field day raiding the British whaling fleet. On board the Essex was Midshipman David Farragut later to become the first Admiral in the United States Navy.
This book is well written and extremely well-paced. The hard cover edition isn't much larger than a paperback. It's easy to pack perfect for a trip. If naval warfare is your interest, this is a book for you. Even if your interest is passing, this book will get and hold your interest.
Good naval history aimed at non-buff readers November 5, 2006
Harry Eagar (Maui)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
There is a glossary at the end of this book that defines terms such as 'broadside,' so it is fair to assume the authors were aiming at a non-specialist readership. If that was the target, they hit it smack on.
There is also a list of the subscribers from Salem, Massachusetts, who paid for the ship, ranging from rich merchants who could give $10,000 (a fortune in those days) to Edmund Gale, shopkeeper, who contributed $10. That in itself tells us something about our ancestors.
This is an unusal book in several ways and will repay knowledgable readers of naval history as well as those who thought -- mistakenly -- that naval history was beyond their range of interests.
A Salem skipper says -- June 14, 2006
Arthur W. Pattee (Fairfax Va)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As a retired Navy Captain who was born in Salem, I enjoy anything about Salem's Maritime history.
This is a well-referenced story of the famous sailing ship
Essex, and although it skips around for logical reasons
I enjoyed the refresher.
The contributors to the funding of Essex were many ordinary
people who lived in Salem. Many of the historic homes
and streets still bear their names.
Bill Pattee, Capt, USN Retired
Fairfax, VA
 A breezy read with all royals set July 18, 2005
Mike Sarzo (Glenn Dale, MD USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If anyone approaches the fiction of a Patrick O'Brian or the real life tales of the men who plied the oceans with the hopelessness of a land lubber, this book is an excellent way to ease yourself into the vernacular of the Age of Sail.
Frances Robotti does an excellent job of explaining terms that some writers take for granted that their readership are expected to know, and for writing an engaging account of not only the building of the USS Essex, but also of the entire United States Navy. She puts the Essex in the context of the times as a subscription vessel built partly with the monies gathered by the people of Salem and a cash poor United States government. She also describes the fortunes of her various captains, from Edward Preble as the stern disciplinarian through William Bainbridge's lack of regard for the common sailor to David Porter's reckless abandon.
I mentioned that I read the book Truxtun of the Constellation in five days. Once I sat down to read this book sequentially, it took me all of three days to read through the pages of a most fascinating account of American history.
Excellent Account December 22, 2004
Victor Annas (Lexington, Kentucky USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is one of the best books I have read on the subject of the 'Federal' Navy. It is written in such fashion as to hold the readers attention, yet renders the history of this great ship well. Highly recommended.
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