This book is both a complete life of Admiral George Dewey and a comprehensive history of the Navy, to which he made so large a contribution. Besides being a great mariner and fighter, Dewey was a great naval diplomat who will live in history as The Naval Statesman of America. In season and out of season Admiral Dewey advocated a Navy second to none. His supreme passion, aside from winning victories over the enemy in every engagement in which he fought, was to see the Navy of the United States strong enough and big enough to meet and defeat any possible antagonist. Long experience and technical knowledge guided his statesmanship.
In the long years of his service as president of the General Board, Admiral Dewey demonstrated his knowledge of international law, diplomacy, and history, thereby not only demonstrating his versatility and high ability, but also helping to win preliminary battles of diplomacy for his country. He and his associates, notably Admiral Charles J. Badger, laid broad and deep the foundations of naval strength.