in 1770 george anson set out from england under orders from king george to harass and distress the spanish coast of south america. startig with a fleet of eight ships and a crew of mostly inexperienced farm boys; he returned to englsnd four years later--seven ships lost; but having captured one of the fabulously weathy spanish gallons along the way
#3554722 in Books 2003-09-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.57 x 1.28 x 6.38l; 1.10 #File Name: 0471377910400 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Exceptional!By Michael E. FitzgeraldThis story of the Oregon Country has been told so many times; what could be added to enhance it? Try enthusiasm and style. This work is so well written as to be jaw dropping. Whether you are an accomplished historian or someone with a casual interest; this history of the Pacific Northwest will please.While there is nothing new here Golay covers the waterfront. You meet the usual cast of characters; the Chinook Indians; John Jacob Astor; the Mountain Men; John McLoughlin; Senator Thomas Hart Benson; the Whitmans; Charles Wilkes; Jedediah Smith; Charles Fremont; etc.; etc. Michael Golay omits no one. He covers the builders and the destroyers from the traders; trappers; explorers; and missionaries who withstood seemingly insurmountable odds to seize the Pacific Northwest for the United States to the economic interests such as the American Fur Company and the Northwest Company that provided employment and competing political agendas.A compellingly told; fast paced account of exploration and adventure; Golay covers a half century of diplomatic rivalry; a flood of transcontinental Euro American settlement and the breathtaking impudence of their claims.