Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) ws a US naval officer and historian who has been described as "the most important American strategist of the 19th century." His book The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 (1890) won immediate recognition, particularly in Europe, and with its successor, The Influence of Sea Power Upon the French Revolution and Empire 1793-1812 (1892), made him world-famous. After studying at Columbia, Mahan entered the Naval Academy where he graduated second in his class in 1859. Commissioned as a lieutenant in 1861 he served the Union in the Civil War as an officer on USS Worcester, Congress, Pocahontas, and James Adger, and as an instructor at the Naval Academy. In 1865 he was promoted to lieutenant commander and then to commander (1872), and captain (1885). In 1885 that he was appointed as lecturer in naval history at the Naval War College and was directed towards writing on the influence of sea power. He took over as President of the College from 1886-89 and 1892-93. Between 1889-92 he was engaged in special service for the Bureau of Navigation, then in 1893 was given command of the new protected cruiser Chicago on a visit to England. He returned to lecture at the War College and in 1896 retired from active service, returning briefly to duty to consult on naval strategy during the Spanish-American War. Mahan continued to write, publishing numerous books on naval subjects, including a biography of Nelson (1897). This memoir in which he looks back on his life and achievements in naval service was published in 1907.
Written by legendary Naval Officer, Alfred Thayer Mahan in 1904 while president of the Naval War College, Farragut was just one of a number of books authored by Mahan. The book covers Farragut's life from 1801-1870. Mahan's preface reads: In preparing this brief sketch of the most celebrated of our naval heroes, the author has been aided by the very full and valuable biography published in 1878 by his son, Mr. Loyall Farragut, who has also kindly supplied for this work many additional details of interest from the Admiral's journals and correspondence, and from other memoranda. For the public events connected with Farragut's career, either directly or indirectly, recourse has been had to the official papers, as well as to the general biographical and historical literature bearing upon the war, which each succeeding year brings forth in books or magazines. The author has also to express his thanks to Rear-Admiral Thornton A. Jenkins, formerly chief-of-staff to Admiral Farragut; to Captain John Crittenden Watson, formerly his flag-lieutenant; and to his friend General James Grant Wilson, for interesting anecdotes and reminiscences. A. T. M.
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