Du Pont, the making of an admiral: A biography of Samuel Francis Du Pont

1986 Dodd Mead hardcover, James M Merrill (A Sailor's admiral: A biography of William F. Halsey). An excellent biography of the "first naval hero of the Civil War." Enlivened by frequent quotations, especially from Du Pont's exceptionally detailed letters to his wife, this biography also "accurately mirrors the history of the United States Navy from 1815 to 1865." Merrill follows Du Pont (1803-65) from his service as a midshipman through his duty on distant stations, to participation in the Mexican War, Far Eastern diplomatic activities, work in organizing the Naval Academy and on several important naval boards, and part in the changes from sail to steam and in the Civil War. - Amazon