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A Gentlemanly and Honorable Pro- previously unexamined data. Any review of this book that failed to fession: The Creation of the U.S. Naval Officer Corps, 1794-1815, by Chris- note its portraits, particularly the rarely topher McKee (Naval Institute Press, published miniature profiles of C. B. J. Annapolis MD, I 99 I, 600 pages, illus, Fevret de Saint-Mernin, would be doing an inju stice to the author 's research . index, $29.95hb) w. M. P. D UNNE A Gentlemanly and Honorable ProSea Ed ucation Ass'n, Inc. f ession is a landmark work, not merely Woods Hole, Massachu setts of naval history, but of social history. Christopher McKee devoted twenty years to his magnum opus, and the result more Predators and Prizes: American Prithan justifies that effort. Over the past vateering and Imperial Warfare, 1739decade, the author's occasional articles 1748, by Carl E. Swanson (University of and symposia papers have given tanta- South Caro lina Press, Co lumbia SC, 1izing hints of the breadth of his work, 1991, 299p , illus , index , $29.95 hb) Predators and Prizes provides a textbut those tidbits fai led to prepare the reader for the comp lex , yet comprehen- book qualitative and quantitative analysis of privateering in Great Britain's sible, end product. The eight-year reign of Robert Smith North American colonies during the first as Secretary of the Navy-criticized and half of the 18th century . Dr. Swanson's minimalized in its effect by Oscar Paullin theses and conclusions do much to reand undoubtedly overshadowed by the vise many popular mi sconceptions about tribulations of Smith ' s two-year stint as the attractiveness of privateering as an Madison ' s Secretary of State-has been acceptable and reputable profess ion. withdrawn from the closet of disdain , Swanson identifies privateering as a revalued , and given its deserved place as sound proposition in a world guided by a centerpiece of naval soc ial history. the precepts of the political economy of Smith's cultivation and nurturing of the mercantilism. He revises prev ious works boys of the early corps arguably out- that have classed private warships as an weighed the use of them by Com modore inconsequential phase of I 8th-century Preble, for whom they were named. In maritime warfare, and reminds us that combination, Smith and Preble provided the era was one in which even Europe' s us with the heroes of 1812 and laid the largest state navies lacked the capability of ruling the oceans. The author examfoundation of US naval tradition. McKee sets himself a difficult task in ines the popular appeal of privateering his introduction: re-evaluating the con- measured against the prohibitive cost of temporary classifications of Navy Sec- building and maintaining a navy adretary William Jones, a shrewd man on equate for policing the major trade routes the spot with personal knowledge of of the period: "The state's power was most members of the corps. McKee augmented without draining the national achieves his objective and considerably treasure, and the profit motive played the key role." more. The book ' s first six chapters are laid In a short review it is impossible to examine all the evidence, analyses, struc- out topically, and the seventh is a sum tural nuances and conclusions necessary mary , " The Impact of Privateering on to construct a major work of social his- Commerce." The author's research and tory. It must suffice to note that McKee ' s analysis are clearl y indicated by both the history of the navy officer corps begins textual material and supporting tables. The clearly stated difference between with events that predate the corps itself. His analysis of the various types who privateers and letter of marque vessels became midshipmen begins with home might have better served the reader had influences, proceeds through educational it appeared earlier than it does in the and professional expertise, and ends with book. And in Chapter Three, the author a review of the various origins feedi ng consistently points to sloops, brigs, snows that entry to the corps. He also examines and ships as vessels preferred to schooeach possible route to a lieutenant 's com- ners for privateering, while failing to mission, the true starting point in the note that the schooner rig was a re lative march to the navy ' s highest rank. In newcomer to offshore shipping. Dr. Swanson has done his homework doing so, the author illuminates that huge and shadowy group, the sailing masters. and she d light upon maritime misconAs a result, historians and biographers ception$ of this era. The prevailing viewwi ll have to rethink theses and consider point ex<tolling the stability of 18th cenSEA !HISTORY 58 , SUMMER 1991