W. W. Norton & Company Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy

In Six Frigates, Ian Toll captures both the grand design and small nuances of America's evolution toward a naval power. I enthusiastically recommend this book as a superb distillation of a period of history frequently given modest attention. Well researched, exquisitely written, Toll engages attention from the first and comfortably navigates the reader through the philosphical, political, economic, technological and military convolutions that were the seed of the U.S. Navy. Toll chronicles key naval actions of the Quasi War, Barbary Coast, and War of 1812. But "conflict" is not reserved to "Old Ironsides" or her sisters. Toll sets the miltary stage with a thorough and insightful examination of the political and economic ebb and flow of the time, and how "civilian" matters shaped action at sea. Toll examines the political debate (Federalist v. Republican) on the notion of whether or not to establish a permanent navy and, if so, how it should be best funded and managed. Toll is also careful to juxtaposition the personalities, strategies and actions of the foreign powers of the time, Great Britain and France. The book includes enlightening biographies of key political players and their opinions. For example, Toll puzzles over Jefferson's contradictions, writing, "...it is hardly surprising to find that Jefferson's words and deeds on the subject of seapower are dissonant. While serving as minister to France in the 1780s, [Jefferson] had argued in favor of building frigates to patrol the Mediterranean... Fifteen years later, campaigning for president at the head of the fiercely anti-navalist Republican Party, he declared himself in favor of 'such a naval force only as may protect our coasts and harbors'..." (Page 162). Toll is deft discussing conflicting design theories including Joshua Humphrey's unorthodox specifications for the title ships. While giving technical highlights, overbearing detail is avoided. He also gives balanced treatment to key naval leaders in the context of personal deportment, personnel and logistical management, and combat ability. Tangents on dueling to settle matters of honor, the chivalrous correspondence between British and American captains, the yellow fever epidemic of 1797, or how Quercus virens (southern live oak) was harvested and turned into ships adds flavor, color and context to the main theme. Divided into three parts, each roughly 150 pages, I read Six Frigates in three days. The Notes and Bibliography are thorough and professionally rendered. My complaints are three. Numerous spelling errors are a surprising and consistent annoynance. Next is nomenclature. Toll's position (set forth early on) leaves the layman reaching for a dictionary to translate nautical terms. (What is a xebeck, polacre and felucca? One can guess yet remain uncertain about sailors "worming, serving, splicing, hitching, bending, grafting, seizing and parceling" hemp cordage. And understanding maneuvers requires a mix of insight, intuition, extrapolation from context and outright guesswork... close reefs, bent the mizzen, close-reefed fore topsail, hauling her wind, dead to windward, swayed up her topgallant, unbent her cables.) Here margin cut-outs, footnotes or a glossary would have ensured clarity while keeping the length managable. Finally, and most egregiously, is the scarcity of maps. Toll provides two charts in the bookplates following pages 143 and 304. While artistically pleasing and interesting, they are period sketches woefully inadequate to placing the reader into the action or to better understand the politics, military strategy and troop and ship movements. A general ship's diagram (e.g., in cross section) would have also been valuable. While perhaps a 4-star in some areas of execution, the subject matter, insight and readability easily warrant FIVE STARS and my endorsement.

A very enjoyable and thorough account of the founding of the US navy. In spite of its formidable size I blew through it in a week.

I bought this because I am currently building a model of USS Constitution, and am reading widely on the subject. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is a fascinating read of the origins of the US Navy of course... little mention of the Napoleonic wars, battle of the Nile and Trafalgar, but I am only about half way through, so maybe they will appear later. It is a warts and all history. No excessive hubristic chauvinism. It is very well and entertainingly written, and thoroughly researched. Highly recommended for ship modelers, history buffs, and lovers of Hornblower, Aubrey/Maturin and Bolitho.

Review of Ian Toll-‘Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy’ A masterful piece in the vein of McGrath’s ‘John Barry’ (2010) and ‘Give Me a Fast Ship’ (2014) provides a sweeping scope of war at sea in the era of sail. The book is well documented, fully researched and grounded in the economic and diplomatic history of the early decades of the new republic and its quarrels with France and England. From the end of the American Revolution through the Tripolitan War against the Barbary pirates, the Quasi War and events leading up to the War of 1812, the fledgling US Navy went through a tumultuous period, one of political and diplomatic tugs of war that saw the navy dismantled (1785) mainly because of costs. With American shipping preyed upon by the Algerian states, President Washington persuaded congress to authorize the building of a navy, originally 4 frigates of 44-guns and two of 28-guns. The Naval Act of 1794 saw the birth of the U.S. Navy and the final realization that 44-gun frigates posed tactical advantages over lesser armed British brigs/frigates of 28-guns and more heavily armed British battleships with 74-guns. Thus, this led to the building of a new class of warship which gave the new navy an unforeseen edge that had been missed by Britain and France. Hence, following the signing of a treaty with the Barbary States, the navy was mothballed until the Quasi War with France reenergized the refitting of ships to harry French shipping, and ultimately the construction of six frigates: President, Congress, United States, Constitution, Constellation and Chesapeake. Of all the early 19th century frigates built only the Constitution is a commissioned vessel of the US navy still afloat in Boston Harbor. As with Alfred Mahan’s ‘The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783,’ Ian Toll’s ‘Six Frigates’, the 2008 winner of the Samuel Eliot Morrison Award for Naval Literature, is an important addition to naval history and a book well worth reading. W.C. Mahaney, author of ‘The Warmaker’ (2008), ‘The Golden Till’ (2010) and ‘Operation Black Eagle’ (2012).

THIS IS AN INTERESTING BOOK WRITTEN BY MR IAN TOLL. HE HAS WRITTEN IN DETAIL ABOUT THE USA IN THE PACIFIC WAR (3 BOOKS).