Morning of Fire : John Kendrick's Daring American Odyssey in the Pacific

Four years after the Revolutionary War, America's independence was still in doubt. To survive, the new nation needed money and a vital surge in trade. In the back rooms of Boston, a daring plan was launched by a group of merchants and ship owners: to send two ships on a desperate mission around Cape Horn and into the Pacific Ocean. They wanted to establish new trade with China, settle an outpost on territory claimed by the Spanish, and find the legendary Northwest Passage'the fabled waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The adventure would bring the world to the brink of war. The man chosen to lead the expedition was John Kendrick'a master navigator and a charismatic captain of privateers during the Revolution. On the far side of the world, Kendrick would have to rely on his bravery, his charm, and most of all his remarkable resolve to navigate unknown waters, negotiate with cutthroat imperialists from England and Spain, and form alliances with natives hit hard by early encounters with Europeans. Seventeen years before Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific coast, Kendrick established the first American outpost on what would become Vancouver Island. He then traveled into the cauldron of an intertribal war in the Hawaiian Islands before moving into the far ports of Macao, China, and Kushimoto, Japan, where he narrowly escaped capture by a troop of samurai. Throughout the seven-year journey, Kendrick faced a subordinate officer who wanted to usurp his command, Spanish officials who wanted him captured, and a rival British captain who wanted him dead. Morning of Fire follows Kendrick through each perilous turn of his adventures aboard the Lady Washington and the Columbia Rediviva. This meticulously researched story uncovers the full scope of a landmark American voyage that came at the volatile close of the eighteenth century, a time when superpowers Spain and Britain clashed over territory and the fledgling United States stood caught in the middle. As Scott Ridley relates Kendrick's fateful struggle to plant the seed of an "empire of liberty" in the Pacific, he shapes a bold and exciting chronicle of a momentous odyssey. Morning of Fire is popular history at its best Four Years After The Revolutionary War, America's Independence Was Still In Doubt. The New Nation Needed Money And A Vital Surge In Trade. In 1787, A Group Of Boston Merchants Decided To Send Two Ships On A Desperate Mission Around Cape Horn And Into The Pacific Ocean, To Establish New Trade With China, Settle An Outpost On Territory Claimed By The Spanish, And Find The Legendary Northwest Passage. The Seven-year Adventure, Known As The Columbia Expedition, Would Bring The World To The Brink Of War. The Man Chosen To Lead The Expedition Was John Kendrick--a Master Navigator And A Charismatic Captain Of Privateers During The Revolution. On The Far Side Of The World, Kendrick Would Have To Rely On His Bravery, His Charm, And His Remarkable Resolve To Navigate Unknown Waters, Negotiate With Cutthroat Imperialists From England And Spain, And Form Alliances With Natives Hit Hard By Early Encounters With Europeans.--from Publisher Description. Prologue: Morning Of Fire -- Pt. I. The Journey Outward. Out Of A Time Of Great Peril -- Passage To The Underworld -- Spain's Frontier -- Refuge -- Halting The Incursion -- Pt. Ii. Infinite Wilderness. Nootka -- Seizure -- The Golden Fleece -- Divided Dreams -- A Place Of Skulls -- Pt. Iii. Odyssey. Volatile Paradise -- House Of Cards -- Columbia's Homecoming -- An American Presence -- Long-awaited Return -- Pt. Iv. Edge Of Empire. A Soft War -- Survival And Seduction -- A Rising Tide -- Possession -- Last Season -- The Fire's Reach -- Epilogue: Legacy For A New Nation. Scott Ridley. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [377]-444) And Index. Morning of Fire by Scott Ridley is the thrilling story of 18th century American explorer and expeditioner John Kedrick as he journeyed for land and trade in the Pacific. Set against the backdrop of one of the most exciting and uncertain times in world history, John Kendrick’s odyssey aboard his sailing ship Lady Washington carries him from the shores of New England across the unexplored waters of the Pacific Northwest to the contentious ports of China and the war-ravaged islands of Hawaii, all while avoiding intrigues and traps from the British and the Spanish. Morning of Fire is riveting American and naval history that brings the era of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson gloriously alive—a tale of danger, adventure, and discovery that fans of Nathaniel Philbrick will not want to miss. Morning of Fire by Scott Ridley is the thrilling story of 18th century American explorer John Kendrick as he journeyed for land and trade in the Pacific. Set against the backdrop of one of the most exciting and uncertain times in world history, John Kendrick's odyssey aboard his sailing ship Lady Washington carries him from the shores of New England across the unexplored waters of the Pacific Northwest to the contentious ports of China and the war-ravaged islands of Hawaii, all while avoiding intrigues and traps from the British and the Spanish. Morning of Fire is riveting American and naval history that brings the era of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson gloriously alivea tale of danger, adventure, and discovery that fans of Nathaniel Philbrick will not want to miss. Chronicles the efforts of the fledgling United States to establish naval supremacy as reflected by the seven-year odyssey of sea captain John Kendrick, tracing his dangerous passage around Cape Horn and explorations of the Pacific coast.