Stephen Russell Mallory : a biography of the Confederate Navy secretary and United States senator

Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., 2005. Hardcover. Near Fine/None. Full color, glossy boards are clean and bright. Binding is tight. Interior is unmarked. Quarto (7 1/8 x 10 1/4 ins.) BOOK INFO: Includes bibliographical references (pp. 215-241) and index. ?Just as Confederate naval action is commonly overshadowed by the land battles of the Civil War, the navy?s originator, Stephen Mallory, is often passed over in favor of more famous leaders. Mallory had served as one of Florida?s U.S. senators for ten years when the state?s secession forced him to resign. In the Confederate government he became the naval secretary, challenged to create a valid military force where none had existed. This biography of Stephen Russell Mallory chronicles his formative years in Key West, his decades of public service, and his declining days. It discusses his career in the United States Senate, where he chaired the Committee for Naval Affairs, helping to strengthen?in an ironic twist of fate?the very navy he would later attempt to defeat. The work also examines the challenges and obstacles, such as political interference and inadequate supplies, that Mallory faced in creating a navy for the South. Special attention is given to Mallory?s family relationships. Primary sources include autobiographical documents and archival records.?--Provided by publisher. Mallory, Stephen R. (Stephen Russell), 1813-1873, Confederate States of America. Navy--Biography, Confederate States of America. Navy--History, United States. Congress. Senate--Biography, Cabinet officers--Confederate States of America--Biography