Captain alfred thayer mahan argued in the influence of sea power upon history 1890 that a nations greatness depended on its navy, and that countries with the greatest fleets played a decisive role in shaping history. Mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred t. The theories of alfred thayer mahan, however, did quite a bit to influence not only. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the president of the united states naval war college, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, a revolutionary analysis of the importance of naval power as a factor in the rise of the british empire. Measured in terms of a nations capacity to use the seas in defiance of rivals and competitors, it consists of such diverse elements as combat craft and weapons, auxiliary craft, commercial shipping, bases, and trained personnel. Early life alfred thayer mahan was born on september 27. Admiral alfred thayer mahan was an admiral like his father before him. Having therefore no foreign establishments, either colonial or military, the ships of war of the united states, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. Mahans classic treatise on naval warfare and how its effective deployment changed the course of history. The naval officer in question is alfred thayer mahan 18401914 who, in 1890, published the results of his extensive study of history, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Born to mary okill and dennis hart mahan, the latter a professor of civil and military engineering at west point, mahan became a career naval officer. Several ships, including the uss mahan, were named in his honor. National interest and moral responsibility in the political thought of.
By the end of the 1890s, the united states had embarked on its journey as an imperial power. Alfred thayer mahan was influential in helping to buildup naval defenses before world war i. This work describes the naval operations during the civil war that extended, on the seaboard, over the gulf of mexico from key west to the mouth of the rio grande, and inland over the course of the mississippi, and its. Indications are not wanting of an approaching change in the thoughts and policy of. Measured in terms of a nations capacity to use the seas in defiance of rivals and competitors, it consists of such diverse elements as combat craft and weapons, auxiliary craft, commercial shipping, bases, and trained. In 1890, mahan published his book, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783.
Alfred thayer mahan was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. It details the role of sea power during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and discussed the various factors needed to support and achieve sea power, with emphasis on having the largest and most powerful fleet. Excerpts from the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. Alfred thayer mahan was born on 27 september 1840 at west point, new york, where his father, dennis hart mahan, was a distinguished professor of civil and military engineering at the us military academy. Alfred thayer mahan argued that sea power was vastly important to the state.
Mahan was a united states of america navy admiral, strategist and historian. Mahan s classic treatise on naval warfare and how its effective deployment changed the course of history. Alfred thayer mahan synonyms, alfred thayer mahan pronunciation, alfred thayer mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred thayer mahan. How did alfred thayer mahans ideas influence imperialism.
In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. The younger mahan, however, attended annapolis and embarked on a naval career seeing duty in the south atlantic and gulf of mexico against the confederacy. This excerpt is from alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer, 18401914 an online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article mahan, a. He is considered to be one of the most important american strategist in the 19th century. Alfred thayer mahan has 74 books on goodreads with 4981 ratings. A civil war veteran, teaches at the naval war college. Alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea power. He also became a historian and strategic analyst upon his appointment to the new naval war college in newport, rhode island, in 1885. Since men live upon the land and not upon the sea, great issues 3 ibid. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer who wrote extensively on naval strategy and the history of sea power.
Mahans first book, published in 1890, was about 600 pages and included 30 illustrations maps and plans, or trackcharts, of sea battles, and can be downloaded from project gutenberg, file 529h. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914, american naval historian and strategist, provided the intellectual and historical foundations for american imperial expansion. Dec 04, 2008 admiral alfred thayer mahan was an admiral like his father before him. Naval war college 1885 and publish his best selling books about history. Alfred thayer mahan definition of alfred thayer mahan by. The inevitable consequence has followed, as in all eases when the mind or the eye. Mahan s influence of sea power upon history in 1890 was characterized by vacillation, indecision, and frustration. I forget what its called but it argued great nations could only achieve hegemony through a large, powerful, modern navy. Without asserting a narrow parallelism between the case of the united states and either of these, it may safely be said that it is essential to the welfare of the whole.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 alfred. Excerpts from the influence of sea power upon history. Mahans thesis that for an nation to be great it had to be a sea power was immensely influential in the growth of the german navy prior to world war 1 and the expansion of the us into overseas areas in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 naval historian columbia college 185418567 by arguing that sea powerthe strength of a nations navywas the key to strong foreign policy, alfred thayer mahan shaped american military planning and helped prompt a worldwide naval race in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Alfred thayer mahan, born september 27, 1840, west point, new york, u. Important in the minds of the naval expansionists in the early. Excerpts from the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 by alfred thayer mahan first, in peace.
In this book he argued for the paramount importance of. From his studies of naval warfare he drew principles of strategy that greatly influenced the development and employment of naval forces during the first half of the. That which i deplore, and which is a sober, just, and reasonable cause of deep national concern, is that the nation neither has nor. The political thought of admiral alfred thayer mahan was a response to two. Alfred thayer mahan, the interest of america in sea power. December 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer mahan, the renowned naval historian, strategist, and geopolitical theorist. The government by its policy can favor the natural growth of a peoples industries and its tendencies to seek adventure and gain by way of the sea. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890, which was based. He also became a historian and strategic analyst upon his appointment to the new naval war. Cse for the new navy, 1880 1890 by robert seager ii american foreign policy throughout the tenyear period preceding the publication of admiral alfred t. Alfred thayer mahan writes the influence of sea power upon history mahan. Mahan captain alfred thayer mahan s book of 1890, the influence of sea power upon history.
Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. September 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states naval officer and historian, whom john keegan called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. Mahan preached the importance of naval power to a nations success in trade and growth in power and influence, based on his reading of the history of the wars of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, mostly around europe but also in the indian. The philosophy of rear admiral alfred thayer mahan can be perfectly encapsulated within this quote from his article the united states looking outward in the december 1890 issue of atlantic monthly. Davis believed that mahan had a strong naval mind and encouraged him to. In 1890, mahan published his first of over 20 books about naval and sea power. Alfred thayer mahan united states naval officer and historian mahan. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840december 1, 1914 was a us navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian.
Alfred thayer mahan, the interest of america in sea power, present and future 1897. This excerpt is from alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history. Although some of his articles and books are less resonant today. His book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 won immediate recognition, especially in europe, and with its successor. Influence of sea power upon history 16601783 abridged and influence of sea power upon the french revolution 17931812 excerpts capt. The united states has asserted a special interest in the isthmus. The interest of america in sea power, present and future. Our increasing production demanded we expanded overseas and gain new markets. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states navy admiral, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. Teddy read mahans book and decided to adopt many of. His most important thesis was that the country with the most powerful navy can have the greatest influence in the world. He wrote a great book about the use of sea power for militaryeconomic domination. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was a naval strategist, historian, and leading advocate of a powerful u.
Captain alfred thayer mahan argued in the influence of sea. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the president of the united states naval war college, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, a revolutionary analysis of the importance of naval power as a factor in the rise of the british. Expansionists in the 1890s, theodore roosevelt among them, avidly. The inevitable consequence has followed, as in all cases when the mind or the eye is. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer and lecturer. This excerpt is from alfred thayer mahans the influence of. This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history.
In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Military academy at west point and a professor of civil and military. The influence of sea power upon history 1890 written by alfred mahan who argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. Mahan, the united states looking outward, atlantic monthly, lxvi december, 1890, 81624. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school. He died in washington, dc on 1 december 1914, and is buried at quogue, long island. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school in maryland, st. By that time his ideas were well known, and he argued widely and publicly that the time had come for the united states to begin to look outward and use its position.
His most prominent work, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, had a widespread impact on navies around the world. Mahans scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the naval war. Mahan, the united states looking outward the atlantic monthly, december, 1890. The publication of the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, in 1890, was just the start of mahan s workhe followed this with numerous books and articles, influencing some very important people. In 1890, us navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote a landmark book entitled, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. In his writings and speeches, mahan argued the following. Aircraft used in the control of seaborne transportation function as an. The proponents of a strong navy also recognized the value of overseas trade. The publication of the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, in 1890. Family projects business global events books fiction newsletters. His concept of sea power was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact. Since the 1890 census declared there was no longer a clear line separating settled from unsettled land, mahan argued that americans must begin to look outward.
His vision for the united states included overseas colonies and control of a canal. The greatest historic requisite for national power, mahan claimed, was sea power, which. Indications are not wanting of an approaching change in the thoughts an. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. This highly influential volume, first published in 1890, contains mahans analysis and discussions of the factors leading to britains naval domination in the eighteenth century, with strategic and tactical recommendations based on these factors. He was very influential over his friend and colleague, teddy roosevelt. That which i deplore, and which is a sober, just, and reasonable cause of deep national concern, is that the nation neither has nor cares to. Mahan argued that no nation could prosper without a large fleet of ships engaged in international trade, protected by a powerful navy operating from overseas bases. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. Mahans most famous work was the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890, which became one of the most influential books on strategy and foreign policy ever written. This excerpt is from alfred thayer mahans the influence. Sea power, means by which a nation extends its military power onto the seas. The theories of alfred thayer mahan, however, did quite a bit to influence not only the u. The geopolitical vision of alfred thayer mahan the diplomat.
273 48 1402 1296 601 1016 1136 1519 1014 1389 496 64 1540 656 1025 555 147 631 1650 583 1045 740 617 1231 1490 703 1283 235 69