Captain Christopher Newport [Perfect Paperback]

A. Bryant Nichols Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2007

In this first full-length biography of Christopher Newport (1561-1617), Nichols portrays, in carefully researched detail, the adventurous life on the high seas of the courageous sea captain who founded the Jamestown Colony in Virginia. As a young man, Newport sailed with Sir Francis Drake in the daring attack on the Spanish fleet at Cadiz and participated in England s defeat of the Spanish Armada. During the war with Spain, Newport seized fortunes of Spanish and Portuguese treasure in fierce sea battles in the West Indies as a privateer for Queen Elizabeth I. He led more attacks on Spanish shipping and settlements than any other English privateer. After leading his men aboard an enemy ship off the coast of Cuba, his right arm was cut off, and Newport was referred to thereafter as, Christopher Newport of the one hand. Admiral of Virginia, Newport led the fleet of colonists who established the first permanent English settlement in the New World. He chose the site for Jamestown, led the initial exploration for King James, and negotiated peacefully with Chief Powhatan's Indian tribes. Newport repeatedly rescued the colonists from famine with four resupply voyages. When the Sea Venture was shipwrecked on Bermuda during a hurricane, Newport organized 150 colonists to build two new vessels for their deliverance to Jamestown. In his later career, Newport led three long trading voyages to the Far East for the East India Company. He brought the first English ambassadors to Persia and India. His many voyages laid the foundations for the evolution of the British Empire. Captain Christopher Newport was an outstanding navigator, stern but compassionate sea captain, and legendary leader of men.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

www.CaptainChristopherNewport.com

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Sea Venture LLC; 1 edition (April 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615140017
• ISBN-13: 978-0615140018
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,072,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last!, May 16, 2007

By 

Mary S. Holt "Mary Sherwood Holt" (Newport News, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Captain Christopher Newport (Perfect Paperback)

A fascinating and belated book! Christopher Newport is much better known in his home country of England than in the nation he helped found 400 years ago. An outstanding and successful privateer in Queen Elizabeth's navy in spite of being one-armed, he led the colonists who settled Jamestown in 1607. Yet even here, in the city named for him, he is a virtual unknown. Unknown that is when compared to John Smith, who of course wrote the books and preferred himself to any other potential hero. As a previous reviewer noted, Bryant Nichols has meticulously researched his subject, and has at last lit Christopher Newport with the spotlight he so richly deserves.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nichols perfectly captures Newport's life, April 20, 2007

By 

Andrew B. Rodkey "Drewdoggjmu" (Arlington, Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Captain Christopher Newport (Perfect Paperback)

A. Bryant Nichols accurately and descriptively captures the life of Captain Christopher Newport. While reading through history is not generally the easiest of tasks, Nichols' brilliantly written biography walks you through the exciting live of Captain Newport as if it were a novel! As a follower of Captain Newport history I can legitimately say that this book is historically accurate and beautifully written. For anyone who wants to learn the real story of the beginning of America this book is for you! The book not only contains the written adventures of Captain Newport but also contains beautiful artwork and maps that were meticulously supplied by Nichols. This is hands down the best source of information on Captain Newport and coincidently a terrific read. I am impressed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to an amazing man, December 9, 2007

By 

P. Nielsen (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Captain Christopher Newport (Perfect Paperback)

Before reading this fascinating account by Bryant Nichols, I had no idea who Christopher Newport was. This man was an amazing adventurer who was a pioneer in global trade and was also a legendary privateer who didn't mind crossing swords with enemies of England when asked to by the crown. Nichols' book is well documented, easy to read and full of really interesting facts. For example, Newport and his crew didn't starve when shipwrecked in Bermuda, because a hundred years earlier the Spanish, following their own code of the sea, threw pigs overboard off the shores of Bermuda to be an emergency food supply for future shipwrecked mariners! I never heard that in history class. Perhaps the greatest insight of the book, into the soul of this legendary sea captain, was found in the transcription of Newport's last will and testament, where the reader learns how Newport could and did look death squarely in the eye without fear. Great research, great adventure, great book. I can't wait for the movie!