Samuel Eliot Morison (1887–1976) was an American historian, biographer, and naval officer. He is celebrated for his vivid narratives of important maritime stories of modern history, coupled with a gift for a meticulous scholarship.
Born in Boston, Morison studied at Harvard from 1904 and received a PhD in 1913. He taught at Harvard for more than 35 years and wrote its official history (1929–36.)
Morison’s History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II (15 vols., 1947–62) was commissioned by President Franklin D Roosevelt and was based chiefly on first-hand observation in the Pacific theatre.
Morison’s other works include Admiral of Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus (1942; Pulitzer) and John Paul Jones (1959; Pulitzer,) The Life of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1967;) and The European Discovery of America, The Northern Voyages (1971.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Samuel Eliot Morison
If a lecturer, he wishes to be heard; if a writer, to be read. He always hopes for a public beyond that of the long-suffering wife.
—Samuel Eliot Morison
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