Blazing sea fights and undercurrents of intrigue: these are among the compelling ingredients of a biography that brings to life the most illustrious and formidable figure of the United States Navy. His name is carried by more than two dozen towns and cities. Here at last is a full exploration of Stephen Decatur's complex character. Reckless in youth, cool yet audacious in combat, loved by those who sailed under his command yet plotted against by rivals in the race for glory, Decatur is brought to life in this enthralling sea story.

Decatur's heroism became widespread news in 1804 when, sent to reclaim a captured U.S. vessel from Tripoli in the Barbary Wars, he ordered his men to set fire to the captured vessel and proceed to attack the sailors of the Tripoli fleet in hand-to-hand combat. His brilliance continued through the War of 1812, after which he was promoted to the highest naval rank of Commodore.

Decatur not only proved dauntless on the quarterdeck but amazingly effective in Mediterranean diplomacy. His spectacular dealings with Islamic powers presaged America's twenty-first century involvement in the region.

Readers will also learn the identity of the woman he forsook for a sophisticated beauty pursued by suitors as varied as Napoleon Bonaparte's younger brother and Aaron Burr. Through freshly discovered documents, many official, some intensely personal, biographer Leonard Guttridge traces the elements that sped Decatur inexorably into the shadow of murder.

Here, at last, is the full story of the man who raised the most memorable toasts in the history of American celebrations, when he declared in 1816 "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!"

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Praise for this book

“Mr. Guttridge's pursuit of records, letters, and diaries has enabled him to reconstruct the whole story, and it is as fascinating and exciting story as any adventure novel.” —The Atlantic Monthly on Ghosts of Cape Sabine

“Ghosts of Cape Sabine, which moves with the pace and texture of a finely tuned novel, deserves to become a classic in the literature of exploration. Reading it, you can practically feel the chill, hear the ice floes grinding against one another in the long winter night.” —The Washington Post

“Captivating. Leonard F. Guttridge takes his readers on an eloquent historical tour.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Mutinies

“This is a well-balanced, illuminating treatment of a rather murky subject, handled deftly. A valuable addition to any naval library.” —Associated Press on Mutinies

“A fascinating study of law, discipline, and morale. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal on Mutinies




About the Author

Leonard F. Guttridge is the author of Icebound: The Jeanette Expedition's Quest for the the North Pole, Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection, and Ghosts of Cape Sabine: The Harrowing True Story of the Greely Expedition. He lives in Alexandria, VA.


Title: Our Country, Right or Wrong : The Life of Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy's Most Illustrious Commander
Author(s): Leonard F. Guttridge
ISBN: 9781466839939
Copyright 2007
Release Date: September 04, 2007
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Countries: United States, Canada | Learn more about available countries
Language: English
Format: ePub,mobi | Learn More about our supported formats
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