Autobiography of A Yankee Mariners: Christopher Prince and The American Revolution, The

Sea Power, Jul 2003 by Gardner, Sherry L

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YANKEE MARINER: Christopher Prince and the American Revolution, edited by Michael J. Crawford, Dulles, Va.: Brassey's, July 2002. 288 pp. $26.95 ISBN: 1-57488-440-9. This book-the diary of sea captain and religious activist Christopher Prince (1751-1832)-was edited for publication by Michael Craw-ford, head of the Early History Branch of the Naval Historical Center.

Christopher Prince set out to leave a record of his experiences for his family; the result, though, was a telling document that adds significantly to the known background data about the events, major players, and social effects of the American Revolution. Though Prince touches briefly on his early years growing up in a seaport town in colonial Massachusetts, his book concentrates primarily on his adventures and exploits-on both American and British ships-during the American Revolution as a naval enlisted man, as an officer of privateers, and as a master of merchantmen. With 15 black-and-white photographs, appendixes, glossary, notes, and index.