In 1865, he was promoted to lieutenant commander, and then to commander (1872), and captain (1885). Commissioned as a lieutenant in 1861, Mahan served as an officer on USS Worcester and James Adger and as an instructor at the Naval Academy. He then joined the steam-corvette Pocahontas of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and participated in the Battle of Port Royal in South Carolina early in the American Civil War. Early career Īfter graduation he was assigned to the frigate Congress from 9 June 1859 until 1861. Naval Academy, where he graduated second in his class in 1859. Against the better judgment of his father, Mahan then entered the U.S. He then studied at Columbia for two years, where he was a member of the Philolexian Society debating club. Mahan attended Saint James School, an Episcopal college preparatory academy in western Maryland. ![]() Mahan's middle name honors "the father of West Point", Sylvanus Thayer. Mahan was born on September 27, 1840, at West Point, New York, to Dennis Hart Mahan, a professor at the United States Military Academy and the foremost American expert on fortifications, and Mary Helena Okill Mahan (1815–1893), daughter of John Okill and Mary Jay, daughter of Sir James Jay. But he was an astute scholar, and the principles that he outlined as requirements for sea power are still relevant today to air power, space power, and information dominance.Alfred Thayer Mahan ( / m ə ˈ h æ n/ Septem– December 1, 1914) was a United States naval officer and historian, whom John Keegan called "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century." His book The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660–1783 (1890) won immediate recognition, especially in Europe, and with its successor, The Influence of Sea Power Upon the French Revolution and Empire, 1793–1812 (1892), made him world-famous and perhaps the most influential American author of the nineteenth century. Mahan was not able to envision air power, space power, or information dominance as critical elements of national power. The global dominance of the United States today is a direct result of our adherence to his principles. The criticisms of Mahans sole focus on sea power are valid, but it is important to understand that his requirements for the success of a nation and the principles upon which he based his writings on Sea Power are just as essential today. ![]() The elements of national power that are important today had not yet been invented in his time and were perhaps only envisioned by science fiction writers. But Mahan wrote about what many considered to be the most important element of national power during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He has often been criticized for his focus on sea power to the exclusion of all other forms of national power. He set forth three requirements that were necessary for the success of a nation production, shipping, and colonies and six principal conditions that affect a nations sea power geographical position, physical conformation, extent of territory, size of the population, character of the people, and character of the government. Mahan 1840-1914 wrote in an era of technological change, but he always believed that the importance of sea power would remain unchanged.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |