FULL SPEED AHEAD!

Discover the true story behind the man who coined the phrase full speed ahead.

James Glasgow Farragut—who went by Glasgow and later changed his given name to David in honor of his guardian, David Porter—is the man in question, the first admiral of the United States Navy. At the age of 10, Glasgow, a White boy from Tennessee whose father ran a ferry on the Holston River, was appointed an acting midshipman in the Navy by President James Madison. This biography details Glasgow’s voyages: sailing aboard ships in the Caribbean and across the Atlantic Ocean, even rounding the tip of South America, all while continuing to prosper in his naval career, rising through the ranks. When the Civil War began, Glasgow dedicated himself to protecting the Union, capturing New Orleans at the request of President Abraham Lincoln. Boasting maps, portraits, and some solid narrative verse, the book will be of interest to kids passionate about 19th-century naval warfare but possibly few others due to the tight focus. The book is a helpful resource for educators and librarians looking to fill out their Civil War collections, but there isn’t enough pizazz or excitement to keep most readers from skimming the pages.

Ably describes one man’s contribution to U.S. naval history.