"The first full-life biography of one of the Civil War's most notable naval officers, this study of John Lorimer Worden illuminates not only his role in the famous Battle of Hampton Roads, but also his subsequent naval service in the Civil War, his eventful tour as Superintendent of the Naval Academy in the 1870s, and his command of the American European Squadron. In doing so, it reveals much about both Worden himself and the 19th century U.S. Navy."-- Craig L. Symonds, author of The Civil War at Sea "Quarstein's and Worden's From Ironclads to Admiral: John Lorimer Worden and Naval Leadership is excellent naval history. The research is impressive, the narrative fascinating, and the leadership lessons clear. This should be in every school, wardroom, and chiefs' mess in the U.
S. Navy and Coast Guard. Highly recommended for leaders, historians, and naval enthusiasts."-- Robert N. Macomber, author of Full Naval Honors and the Captain Peter Wake novels "Historians John Quarstein and Robert Worden deliver a comprehensive and enlightening biography of Admiral John Lorimer Worden through whose half-century, globe-spanning naval career we examine fundamental geopolitical, technological, tactical, and educational transformations of that violent, revolutionary era while witnessing the exceptional contributions of a humble but remarkable leader."-- Lt. Cmdr. Dwight Hughes, USN (ret.
), author of Unlike Anything That Ever Floated: The Monitor and Virginia and the Battle of Hampton Roads, March 8-9, 1862 "Rear Admiral John Lorimer Worden has been brought to life in this much-needed biography. While Worden is best known as the commanding officer of Monitor , the authors show that the events of 9 March 1862 do not solely define him. Here they masterfully illustrate his full naval career and private life with warmth, detail, and a touch of humor."-- Anna Gibson Holloway, former Curator, USS Monitor Center "The name Worden might be familiar to many Navy veterans of the late 20th century as the name of a cruiser, but they might not know that he was the commanding officer of the ironclad USS Monitor that fought the CSS Virginia to a draw in the 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads. Worden had a varied career, including service in the Mexican War, and early in the Civil War he was a POW for a few months before assuming command of the Monitor. He later commanded another ironclad ship and was assigned to supervise construction of ironclads. After the war he was superintendent of the Naval Academy and commanded the European Squadron. This book describes his contributions to the modernization of the Navy.
"-- Sea Power Magazine "In examining the entire breadth of John L. Worden's nearly fifty-three years of service in the US Navy, From Ironclads to Admiral goes well beyond the famous duel at Hampton Roads to provide readers with the first full assessment of that distinguished officer's many other contributions to Union ironclad development and naval superiority during the Civil War. Authors Quarstein and Worden also record their subject's significant impact on scientific advancement, protecting United States national interests overseas, and officer education. The attachment of Worden's name to numerous memorials, including a coastal fort, the parade ground at the Naval Academy, and four US Navy ships, attests to how well John L. Worden was admired and remembered by previous generations, and this fine biography reminds the present and future reader why such honors were so richly deserved."-- Civil War Books & Authors.