In 1775, George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental Army. An experienced infantry commander, Washington arrived in Massachusetts to confront a strategic problem he had never before encountered – the sea. As the weeks passed and British ships continued to resupply the enemy in Boston, Washington came to appreciate the need for a naval force. But he also knew that Congress was not ready for such a thing, so he took the sort of bold move that would become a hallmark of Washington’s leadership style.

Jim Nelson has written over twenty works of maritime fiction and history. He is the winner or the American Library Association/William Young Boyd Award and the Naval Order’s Samuel Eliot Morison Award. Nelson has lectured all over the country and appeared on the Discovery Channel, History Channel, and BookTV.

Reception 6:30pm Program 7:00pm
Free and open to the public, but space is limited; reserve your seat by contacting 978-462-2681 or info@newburyhistory.org
The museum’s program series is sponsored in part by the Institution for Savings.