Winner of the John Lyman Book Award in the category of “U.S. Naval History.” Commanding Petty Despots: The American Navy in the New Republic tells the story of the creation of the American Navy. Rather than focus on the well-known frigate duels and fleet engagements, Thomas Sheppard emphasizes the overlooked story of the institutional formation of the Navy. Sheppard looks at civilian control of the military, and how this concept evolved in the early American republic. For naval officers obsessed with honor and reputation, being willing to put themselves in harm's way was never a problem, but they were far less enthusiastic about taking orders from a civilian Secretary of the Navy. Accustomed to giving orders and receiving absolute obedience at sea, captains were quick to engage in blatantly insubordinate behavior towards their superiors in Washington. The civilian government did not always discourage such thinking. The new American nation needed leaders who were zealous for their honor and quick to engage in heroic acts on behalf of their nation. The most troublesome officers could also be the most effective during the Revolution and the Quasi and Barbary Wars. First Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert tolerated insubordination from “spirited“ officers who secured respect for the American republic from European powers. However, by the end of the War of 1812, the culture of the Navy's officer corps had grown considerably when it came to civil-military strains. A new generation of naval officers, far more attuned to duty and subordination, had risen to prominence, and Stoddert's successors increasingly demanded recognition of civilian supremacy from the officer corps. Although the creation of the Board of Navy Commissioners in 1815 gave the officer corps a greater role in managing the Navy, by that time the authority of the Secretary of the Navy--as an extension of the president--was firmly entrenched. “With thought-provoking analysis, Sheppard clearly explains how honor, fame, and duty motivated officers of the early U.S. Navy. The result is a vivid history detailing the relationship between naval officers of the new republic and their civilian officials. This is an important work for anyone interested in the U.S. Navy in the Age of Sail.” — Kevin D. McCranie, author of Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. and Royal Navies at Sea in the War of 1812 and Mahan, Corbett, and the Foundations of Naval Strategic Thought “Beneath the oft-told history of the cruises, the ship-to-ship battles, and the heroic captains of the United States Navy of 1798-1820 Thomas Sheppard has discovered another story: the slow, often fraught, but ultimately successful evolution of control of the Navy and naval policy from the dominating direction of larger-than-life commodores–whether Thomas Truxtun or John Rodgers—to the civilian Secretaries of the Navy.” — Christopher Mckee, author of Ungentle Goodnights: Life in a Home for Elderly and Disabled Naval Sailors and Marines and the Perilous Seafaring Careers that Brought Them There “In Commanding Petty Despots , Thomas Sheppard’s sparkling prose and impeccable scholarship make his story of the early American navy both vivid and insightful. The result is a superb book that will inform knowledgeable scholars and delight mainstream audiences in equal measure.” — David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, award-winning authors of Henry Clay: The Essential American , Washington’s Circle: The Creation of the President , and The Rise of Andrew Jackson “Sheppard’s engaging account analyzes the complex interactions that led to the emergence of the U.S. Navy as an institution. He describes how formative principles like aggressive action, fierce independence, and a firm commitment to the primacy of civilian authority established a foundation that influences the Navy to this day.” — Trent Hone, author of Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the U.S. Navy, 1898-1945 and co-author of Battle Line: The United States Navy, 1919-1939 “Thomas Sheppard has given us a judiciously crafted, riveting investigation focused on the founding of the U.S. Navy amid widespread tensions between civilian leaders and ranking officers. Deserves an abundance of compliments as an incisive study of efforts to balance civil-military relations in the Navy during the early decades of the new American republic.” — James Kirby Martin, co-author of Surviving Dresden: A Novel about Life, Death, and Redemption in World War II “With deep research, careful analysis, and beautiful prose, Thomas Sheppard explains how and why the U.S. Navy embraced the Constitution’s requirement for civilian control. This engaging book is indispensable to an understanding of the origins of the Navy’s professionalism. Every military officer should know the story, and ponder its message.” — Richard H. Kohn, professor emeritus of History and Peace, War, and Defense , and former chief of Air Force History, 1981-1991