Most admirably, the author places the development of the U.S. His description of the naval architect Josiah Humphreys's conception and construction of the 44-gun frigates is enlightening.

Commendably, his pen portraits of the likes of Thomas Truxtun, William Bainbridge, and Stephen Decatur fully examine their subjects, illustrating, among other things, their considerable touchiness in matters regarding rank, seniority, and honor, which characterized many Navy officers of the time.

Toll has a sure grasp of the personalities of the men who were involved in the life of these frigates, including their designers, the Navy's political heads, and the officers who commanded the ships, strove for glory, and fought for preferment during the Navy's early years. Except when he inexplicably cedes the story of the Constitution's magnificent action against HMS Java to the novelist Patrick O'Brian, he confidently handles all aspects of this stirring story, from ship-to-ship actions to political machinations. He takes these ships from their conception and construction to their actions during the Quasi War with France, the early operations against the Barbary Pirates, the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, and on to the end of the War of 1812.Īlthough he breaks no new ground in regards to sources, Toll comes to the task of telling this oft-told tale with a strong narrative style, a firm command of available material, and an obvious love of the subject. Toll's Six Frigates relates the story of the early American Navy largely through the histories of the first six frigates built by the United States, among which were the illustrious Constitution and the ill-fated Chesapeake. According to Henry Adams, the 1812 encounter between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere raised the United States in one half hour to the rank of a first class power in the world.Ian W. Toll tells this grand tale with the political insight of Founding Brothers and a narrative flair worthy of Patrick O'Brian. How much of a navy would suffice? Britain alone had hundreds of powerful warships.įrom the decision to build six heavy frigates, through the cliffhanger campaign against Tripoli, to the war that shook the world in 1812, Ian W. Would a standing army be the thin end of dictatorship? Would a navy protect American commerce against the Mediterranean pirates, or drain the treasury and provoke hostilities with the great powers? The founders particularly Jefferson, Madison, and Adams debated these questions fiercely and switched sides more than once. Constitution, the establishment of a permanent military had become the most divisive issue facing the new government. How a handful of bastards and outlaws fighting under a piece of striped bunting humbled the omnipotent British Navy.īefore the ink was dry on the U.S.

Six frigates ian w toll