In 1776, Capt. John Manley was a hero, his naval exploits celebrated in song and reported in newspapers across the colonies. George Washington and John Adams praised him, and even the British acknowledged his abilities, calling him "the only man of real courage they have at sea." Today, however, John Manley is largely forgotten, and even his final resting place remains unmarked. Why did a career that began so impressively end in poverty and obscurity?

Captain John Manley - Patriot, Privateer, and America's Forgotten First Hero seeks to answer those questions. It is the first comprehensive examination of Manley's life, revealing details never before published, the result of years of research into naval records, newspaper accounts, diaries, journals, and original documents held by public and private institutions.