Book Description

A biography of an eighteenth-century New England privateer that “takes a deep dive into the life and adventures of this colorful figure” (Fairfield Sun). From the shores of Long Island Sound to the high seas of the West Indies, against British warships and letters of marque, Samuel Smedley left a stream of smoke and blood as he took prisoners and prizes alike. At twenty-three years old, Smedley, a Fairfield, Connecticut native, enlisted as a lieutenant of marines on the Connecticut ship Defence during the American Revolution. Less than a year later he was her captain, scouring the seas for British prey. In this biography, Jackson Kuhl delves into the life and times of this Patriot, sea captain and privateer.