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ADMIRAL LORD ST. VINCENT - SAINT OR TYRANT?: The Life of Sir John Jervis, Nelson's Patron | 
 enlarge | Author: James Davidson
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
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Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1631359
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.1
ISBN: 184415386X
EAN: 9781844153862
ASIN: 184415386X
Publication Date: September 2006
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Product Description
This biography of John Jervis, who became Admiral Lord Vincent, makes compelling reading. It throws an oblique light on Nelson's personality. St Vincent, who was born twenty-three years before Nelson, and survived for eighteen years after Trafalgar, fundamentally influenced the younger man's career despite the two men being diametrically different characters. Yet without him, Nelson's genius might have been submerged by professional jealousy or emotional fragility.
It was St Vincent's strategy and preparation which positioned Nelson to win his three famous victories, but St Vincent himself made vital contributions not only to the defeat of Napoleon but to the well-being of the Royal Navy. Before he became First Lord of the Admiralty, the Navy had been severely weakened by corruption in the dockyards, nepotism in appointments and the appalling conditions under which the seamen lived and worked.
St Vincent deserves the profound gratitude of the Nation; not only for enabling Nelson to exercise his tactical brilliance, but also for the role he played in preventing Napoleon from invading the British Isles.
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| Customer Reviews:
Providing the reader with the most complete picture. May 1, 2007
Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the story of John Jervis, the first-ever British Naval officer - outside of the Royal Family, to eventually hold the rank of Admiral of the Fleet (the Naval equivalent of Field Marshall). Jervis was in command at the Battle of St. Vincent (from which he would later take his name on becoming ennobled). He recognised, however, that that victory was brought about by the actions of the young Captain Nelson who brilliantly disregarded his standing orders, broke formation and placed his ship ahead of the main Spanish Fleet - thus bringing that fleet to battle when they might otherwise have sailed on and avoided direct action. In short, had Nelson not acted as he did, then all those involved would not have had a share in both the resultant glory and prize money.
From that moment onwards, Jervis became Nelson's patron - often choosing him to command squadrons and even fleets of ships over more senior officers. Not only did Nelson never fail in the field of conflict, but he also repaid that support many times over with his now-famous deeds. They did, however, eventually fall out over the subject of prize money.
Jervis was a most competent naval officer, though often fastidious in the way in which he would involve himself in the minutiae of detail of running individual ships - something which he should have left to other officers. This book is a complete and very well researched account of his life - both at sea and at home, though he rarely saw the latter. All the letters and opinions expressed at the time are repeated as we re-live this man's life and career through this book.
An exceedingly fascinating insight for those with an interest in the subject.
NM
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