Product Description

Based on documents never before publicly accessible from the US Navy, the National Archives of the United States of America and the British Home Office, 'The Sea King' is the first biography of one of the Civil War's most fascinating players. As the rogue captain of the last Confederate commerce raider, the Shenandoah, James Waddell was a huge thorn in the side of the post-Civil war administration (they branded him a pirate and an enemy of the state), who singlehandedly destroyed the US whaling fleet, almost brought Britain and America to war, and finally surrendered after a 22,000-mile journey at Liverpool. Proclaimed an American hero upon his death in 1886 he was given the only state funeral ever awarded for a former Confederate officer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #240064 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Dr. Gary McKay is a member of the US Naval Institute and the Navy League of the United States America. Having served in the US Navy with an electronic intelligence unit and in the US Army as an intelligence analyst, he has been decorated by both services for his analyses. His work as a remote sensing archaeologist has been featured in many newspaper articles and television programmes and is an outgrowth of his research time spent at the US Naval Research Laboratory at NASA Stennis Space Centre. He currently heads Float Research, dedicated geographic research group.

Customer Reviews

The Journal of Maritime Research from the National Maritime Museum in Britain says...
"The Sea King" is a valuable snapshot of an extraordinary period in America's maritime history.

Well written American Civil War naval biography
The Sea King is the latest, and best, of a recent series of books related to the CSS Shenandoah. It is not only the first biography of the elusive Captain Waddell, it is the first that is written from the perspective of a former sailor who understands the pressures of commanding a warship at sea. McKay's painstaking research both in the U.S. and U.K. is reflected in the 4 chapters (of 9 total) that focus on Waddell's life before and after the American Civil War as well as the history of the Sea King / Shenandoah from Glasgow, to London, Melbourne, and finally, to Liverpool and Zanzibar. The 16 pages of illustrations include photos, maps, and drawings that provide additional insight into the people, ships and events that shaped Waddell's life. There is also a detailed bibliography and index.

A TrulyGreat Story
A truly well written story, that grabs you from page one, and keeps the reader enthralled.
The life and times of James Iredell Waddell certainly are well worthy of recording for history, as is the voyage of his ship, the Shenandoah, and how she circumnavigated the world.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes both history, and a good yarn.