When you think of the great heroes of the 18th Century Royal Navy, you would probably think of Horatio Nelson, possibly Sir Sidney Smith; but would the name Sir Charles Douglas spring to mind? If it doesn't-it should. Sir Charles Douglas played a pivotal role in many of the most important events of the late eighteenth century, and yet his name appears only in short passages and footnotes of works on naval history and the American Revolution. In Fortune's Favorite: Sir Charles Douglas and the Breaking of the Line, the Royal Navy captain finally receives the attention he deserves for his part in the Relief of Quebec, the Battle of Valcour Island, his naval gunnery innovations, and the Battle of the Saints, including his contribution to the "breaking of the line" maneuver, which has been a subject of controversy for nearly two centuries. Written by an American descendent of Sir Charles, Fortune's Favorite is the definitive work on this most extraordinary man.

One of the most revolutionary tactics in naval warfare was developed in the 18th Century, and was called "Breaking the Line." The Royal Navy used it to win fleet engagements ranging from the Battle of the Saints, to Trafalgar. But, who developed it? Years of controversy led to a war of words between supporters of John Clerk of Eldin, Admiral Lord Rodney, and Rodney's captain-of-the fleet, Sir Charles Douglas. In 1832, the latter's son, Sir Howard Douglas, set forth the arguments on behalf of his father in his book Naval Evolutions: A Memoir. He assumed it would be the final word on the matter. It was not. Full of solid evidence, including eyewitness testimony, the book should have laid theissue to rest. Instead, it waslargely ignored ordismissed as biased due to the relationship of the author to his subject. But, dismissed or not, the book remains, and the arguments are overwhelming. Fireship Press is proud to revisit this controversy with the release of a new edition of the book, with an introduction by Christopher Valin, perhaps the world's leading expert on the life of Sir Charles Douglas. It's a book that any serious student of naval history will want to read.