The First Fleets by Benjamin C. Schaffer, Paperback, 9780817362065 | Buy online at The Nile
Departments
 Free Returns*

The First Fleets

Colonial Navies of the British Atlantic World, 1630-1775

Author: Benjamin C. Schaffer   Series: Maritime Currents: History and Archaeology

The First Fleets
Paperback

A revealing study on the little-known and misunderstood provincial navies established by North American British colonists

Read more
New
$116.63
Or pay later with
Free 30 day returns       Secure transaction
Check delivery options
Paperback

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

A revealing study on the little-known and misunderstood provincial navies established by North American British colonists

Read more

Description

The American Revolution is generally considered the birth of the American naval tradition, but in The First Fleets naval scholar Benjamin C. Schaffer shows that Anglo-American governments possessed economic and political capital to maintain offensive and defensive fleets generations before the American Revolution.

Read more

Critic Reviews

"The First Fleets is a model for writing maritime history. Schaffer connects us not with stories of yard arms and tar barrels, but with social, economic, and political history. . . . It is thoroughly researched, beautifully written, interesting and engaging on every page, and on an important and previously unexplored topic." --Robert J. Allison, author of The American Revolution: A Concise History

"The First Fleets tells the fascinating story of one of the least studied aspects of American history: the development of colonial navies. Historians have long recognized the importance of colonial soldiers and land-based militias. As Benjamin C. Schaffer reminds us, colonial governments built and manned provincial warships on the high seas. In the process, they created the infrastructure and skills that state and Continental navies used to help Americans win their independence from Britain. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, this book should be required reading for anyone interested in the military history of early America."
--Eliga H. Gould, University of New Hampshire


"The First Fleets is one of the most original topics in naval history I've seen in a decade. Schaffer's narrative flows in such a way to make it approachable and appealing to a broader audience." --Claude Berube, author of On Wide Seas: The US Navy in the Jacksonian Era

Read more

About the Author

Benjamin C. Schaffer is an instructor of early American history at the University of South Carolina.

Read more

Product Details

Publisher
The University of Alabama Press
Published
15th June 2025
Pages
232
ISBN
9780817362065

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.

New
$116.63
Or pay later with
Free 30 day returns       Secure transaction
Check delivery options
Browse by category
YOUR PAYMENT IS SECURE

We use 100% PCI DSS compliant payment services. That means your payment information is always protected, and never gets seen by anyone.
30-DAY FREE RETURN POLICY

Return nearly all items within 30 days of delivery. Unused or faulty items are acceptable as free returns. *Exceptions apply, see our returns policy.

The Nile
Follow Us
Help & Support
Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 The Nile Group.

Zip

 AfterPay

PayPal

Credit Card
Buy Baby at The Nile
 
 
 
Buy Toys at The Nile
Buy Books at The Nile
Buy Movies & TV at The Nile
Our Top Brands