A double-edged sword : the biography of Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliott, 1782-1845 / David F. Long.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Long, David F. (David Foster), 1917-2001, Author.

Series:

Maritime currents

Maritime currents : history and archaeology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lake Erie, Battle of, 1813.

Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845.

Elliott, Jesse D.

Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819.

Perry, Oliver Hazard.

United States. Navy--Officers--Biography.

United States.

United States--History--War of 1812--Naval operations.

United States--History, Naval--19th century.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xxii, 258 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm.

Other Title:

Biography of Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliott, 1782-1845

Place of Publication:

Tuscaloosa : The University of Alabama Press, [2026]

Summary:

"An overdue reassessment of one of the US Navy's most decorated-and divisive-early commanders, whose legacy remains teetering between heroism and scandalous. A Double-Edged Sword: The Biography of Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliott, 1782-1845 is a comprehensive and long-overdue portrait of one of the most polarizing figures in early US naval history. Written over the course of a decade and completed shortly before the author's death, this meticulously researched biography revisits the career of a man once hailed for his military exploits-and later condemned for a myriad of personal controversies-including his perceived missteps while in command. David F. Long traces Elliott's rise from promising young officer to commodore, chronicling his leadership during key moments such as the capture of the brig Caledonia, the defense of Fort Erie, and his central-but contested-role in the Battle of Lake Erie. Despite notable contributions to the Navy's early successes, including his diplomatic work and restoration of the USS Constitution, Elliott's legacy was clouded by scandal: accusations of cowardice, a notorious duel, a contentious command style, and a drawn-out court-martial that ended his career in disgrace. Serving as both biography and reflective historical analysis, Long paints a vivid picture of the early US Navy-its rivalries, growing pains, and evolving institutional identity. His balanced account of Elliott's life, neither excusing his faults nor downplaying his achievements, places the commodore's story in direct conversation with the challenges and ambitions of a rapidly expanding American maritime power. This is a must read for scholars of naval and military history, early American politics, or anyone interested in the brazen albeit controversial legacy of a forgotten national hero"-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-246) and index.

ISBN:

9780817322588

0817322582

9780817362409

0817362401

OCLC:

1518918889

Publisher Number:

90103498212