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(More customer reviews)The book was obviously written for historians, and more particularly those historians interested in the British Navy during the Napoleanic era. Nonetheless there is much to be learned by the laymen who are interested in what life was like for the average naval officer during that period. The names of Nelson and the others parade in and out of the pages of this book as the story of Charles Cotton unfolds; the story of a non-hero who began his career off the coast of North America during the war for American Independence and rose through the ranks to become commander of the Mediterranean Fleet and of the Channel Fleet before his career came to an untimely end. Cotton's career did not afford him the distinction of fame and fortune but he faithfully served both king and country. His career was certainly more the norm that those of his famous contemporaries. The very nature of this book demands the inclusion of many names, dates, and places, but in spite of all the data, the author has made it a fast moving story that will hold the interest of professional and amateur historians alike.
Click Here to see more reviews about: In the Shadow of Nelson: The Naval Leadership of Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, 1753-1812 (Contributions in Military Studies)
Sir Charles Cotton served in the Royal Navy from 1772 to 1812. Unfortunately timing precluded his presence at Trafalgar, but he participated in other pivotal battles, including The Saintes and The Glorious First of June. His career culminated with command of a squadron based off Lisbon, Portugal, followed by commands of the prestigious Mediterranean and Channel Fleets. Each of these commands notably influenced the Peninsular War. This study helps to answer one of the most frequently asked questions about this era: How did British naval power contribute to the defeat of Napoleon? Krajeski expands current thinking about the Royal Navy's leadership and accomplishments during this period.
Cotton belongs to the most storied generation of naval commanders in British history. They first served during the American Revolution, participating in numerous combined operations and naval engagements along the North American coast, in the Caribbean, and elsewhere. The experience that they gained between 1775 and 1783 figured prominently upon the resumption of war against France in 1793. As a captain in the Channel Fleet, Cotton fought at the Battle of The Glorious First of June in 1794 and actively blockaded the French Atlantic ports; as an admiral between 1797 and 1806, he focused primarily on the blockade of Brest. In 1808 he achieved a modest measure of contemporary fame as commander of a squadron that supported Sir Arthur Wellesley's campaign in Portugal. Cotton subsequently influenced the Peninsular War as commander of the Mediterranean and Channel Fleet. He died while in command of the Channel Fleet.
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