Join us for an event with Linda M. Maloney, a
priest of the Episcopal diocese of Vermont and the Anglican diocese of
Montreal. She
has been a professor of U.S. history and of the New Testament, and will speak about her recently re-issued book, The Captain from Connecticut.
The Captain from Connecticut is the first definitive biography of the man who became a national hero when he commanded USS Constitution in the dramatic victory over HMS Guerrière
in the War of 1812. Isaac Hull’s outstanding seamanship was in evidence
throughout his career, but Maloney points out that Hull was actually
the most pacific of men, and it is ironic that he is remembered for his
tactical prowess during one naval battle. The famed battle against Guerrière
is skillfully recounted with the verve and detailed attention that
characterize the author’s approach to her subject. Drawing extensively
on Hull’s correspondence and on contemporary naval records, she
skillfully reconstructs Hull’s postwar life against the turbulent years
of the first half of the nineteenth century.
“I am very impressed with this study and believe it will not be
surpassed in its detailed portrait of Hull and the navy he served. The
author has plumbed all the relevant documentary collections and
secondary sources available. Hull’s career has been closely integrated
with those of other principal naval officers of his time. His
relationships with Silas Talbot, William Bainbridge, and John Rodgers
are particularly well drawn. One learns as much about the challenges of
navy life for Hull’s family as about the man himself, and peaceful times
are given at least equal weight with periods of warfare. The book is a
fine modern contribution to naval scholarship.” --William S. Dudley, former director of naval history for the U.S. Navy