Walter R. Borneman Books

How history's only five-star admirals triumphed in World War II and made the United States the world's dominant sea power.

In Polk, Walter R. Borneman gives us the first complete and authoritative biography of a president often overshadowed in image but seldom outdone in accomplishment. James K. Polk occupied the White House for only four years, from 1845 to 1849, but he plotted and attained a formidable agenda: He fought for and won tariff reductions, reestablished an independent Treasury, and, most notably, brought Texas into the Union, bluffed Great Britain out of the lion’s share of Oregon, and wrested California and much of the Southwest from Mexico. On reflection, these successes seem even more impressive, given the contentious political environment of the time. In this unprecedented, long-overdue warts-and-all look at Polk’s life and career, we have a portrait of an expansionist president and decisive statesman who redefined the country he led, and we are reminded anew of the true meaning of presidential accomplishment and resolve.

In the summer of 1754, deep in the wilderness of western Pennsylvania, a very young George Washington suffered his first military defeat, and a centuries-old feud between Great Britain and France was rekindled. The war that followed would be fought across virgin territories, from Nova Scotia to the forks of the Ohio River, and it would ultimately decide the fate of the entire North American continent—not just for Great Britain and France but also for the Spanish and Native American populations. Noted historian Walter R. Borneman brings to life an epic struggle for a continent—what Samuel Eliot Morison called "truly the first world war"—and emphasizes how the seeds of discord sown in its aftermath would take root and blossom into the American Revolution.

In June 1812, the fledgling United States boldly declared war on the British Empire. This conflict, fought with aging sailing ships and often inept generals, featured retaliatory attacks, including the burning of capitals and a legendary battle fought after a peace treaty was signed. The young American navy distinguished itself, with the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," sinking two British frigates, and Lieutenant Oliver Hazard Perry rallying forces with the flag "Don't Give Up the Ship" to reclaim Lake Erie. By 1814, the war evolved from issues of free trade and sailors' rights to a fight for national survival, exemplified by the defense of Fort McHenry, which protected Baltimore from destruction. The narrative includes notable figures such as American generals Henry "Granny" Dearborn, James Wilkinson, and Andrew Jackson, alongside British leaders like Sir Isaac Brock and Rear Admiral George Cockburn, who burned Washington. It also highlights individuals caught in the turmoil, like Laura Secord, often called Canada's Paul Revere, and Dr. William Beanes, whose capture inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." This account emphasizes the War of 1812's crucial role in shaping the United States, bridging the gap between the American Revolution and the Civil War, and marking the nation's emergence from colonial dependence into a more assertive identity.