"This is an excellent summary of how the U.S. Navy grew from next to nothing at the end of the American Revolution into a force without which the Union could not have defeated the Confederacy, and became a world-class power in the twentieth century... Dull has pulled personalities, diplomacy, technology, and politics into a nicely executed summary. This is a superior reference for someone who wants a different look at our early history."-Frieda Murray, Booklist -- Frieda Murray Booklist "American Naval History provides a very important intellectual contribution by connecting American naval history to the American colonial experience across the entire scope of permanent settlement from 1607 to 1775."-John B. Hattendorf, Historian -- John B. Hattendorf Historian "Impressive intellectual heft."-Stephen Curley, Journal of American Culture -- Stephen Curley Journal of American Culture "A tight, insightful overview of American naval history."-A. A. Nofi, strategypage.com -- A. A. Nofi strategypage.com "American Naval History, 1607-1865 is an important work in that it continues a recent historiographical trend that places naval and other military history into broader discussions that detail not only how outside factors shaped fighting forces, but also how military institutions were integral parts of the wider modern world."-Greg Rogers, H-NET -- Greg Rogers H-NET "American Naval History is a thought-provoking book that asks its readers to consider the early history of the U.S. Navy in a larger context, which is reason enough to recommend it to readers looking for a quick and lucid introduction to America's naval heritage."-Kurt Hackemer, Journal of American History -- Kurt Hackemer Journal of American History