Title: The Tragic Career of Commodore James Barron.
Author: Paul Barron Watson.
Publisher: Coward-McCann, Inc. New York.
Publication Date: 1942; first edition.
Format: hardcover; original publishers blue cloth; gilt titles; red top-stained pages; dust jacket (in clear protective jacket).
Length: 84 pages
Size: approximately 5 5/8" by 8 1/4"
Illustrations: frontispiece of Commodore Barron.
Description: This book tells the exciting and tragic story of Commodore James Barron whose honor and career were blighted by the enmity of Stephen Decatur. According to Wikipedia, “James Barron (1768-1851) was an officer in the United States Navy. He served in the Quasi-War and the Barbary Wars, during which he commanded a number of famous ships, including USS Essex and USS President. As commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake, he was involved in the Chesapeake–Leopard affair in 1807 which led to the surrender of his ship to the British and resulted in him being court-martialed for his actions during the incident. After criticism from some fellow officers, the resulting controversy led Barron to a duel with Stephen Decatur, one of the officers who presided over his court-martial. Suspended from command, he pursued commercial interests in Europe during the War of 1812. Barron finished his naval career on shore duty, becoming the Navy's senior officer in 1839.”
Provenance: The first front facing end paper is signed and dated, “Armistead Borland, Norfolk, Va., 1942.” According to a post by Lawrence Morton on the “Vintage North End Virginia Beach; An Illustrated History Archive”, “Armistead Borland attended Claverack College in Claverack, New York. It was there he became good friends with Stephen Crane, author of "Red Badge of Courage" and well known novelist and poet. Correspondence between the two ... are in Mr. Crane's personal papers housed at Syracuse University. Mr Borland was a real estate investor in the firm of Woodward, Borland and Co. ... He also served as Secretary of Norfolk's Civil Service Commission for almost thirty years.”
Condition: Very good. The binding is tight and sound. The cover is in very good condition. The dust jacket has clipped corners, some chipping/minor tears, and light soiling. The inside pages are generally clean and crisp. The two pages in contact with the frontispiece are toned/foxed. Pages 48 and 49 are toned where an unrelated newspaper clipping was placed.