Dr Sam Willis is one of the world's leading authorities on the sailing navy. He is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Exeter's Centre for Maritime Historical Studies and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is the author of several books on naval and maritime history including the highly successful Fighting Ships series. He lives in Exeter.

'One of the things that makes Willis such a joy to read is the blazing clarity of his explanations. By the time you've finished his book you'll appreciate every nuance of naval tactics' Mail on Sunday.

• List of illustrations. Maps. Prologue: The First Regicide. Introduction. The First Terror. The First Surrender. The First and Greatest Sea Officer. The First War Artist. The First Convoy. The First Contact. The First Blood. The First of June. The First Reaction: Honour and Glory. The Second Reaction: Acrimony and Disgrace. The Second Terror. Epilogue. Appendix I: The Chronology. Appendix II: The Fleets. Appendix III: The Pocock Sketches. Appendix IV: The Biographies. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

Dr Sam Willis is one of the world's leading authorities on the sailing navy. He is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Exeter's Centre for Maritime Historical Studies and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is the author of several books on naval and maritime history including the highly successful Fighting Ships series. He lives in Exeter.

'One of the things that makes Willis such a joy to read is the blazing clarity of his explanations. By the time you've finished his book you'll appreciate every nuance of naval tactics' Mail on Sunday.

• List of illustrations. Maps. Prologue: The First Regicide. Introduction. The First Terror. The First Surrender. The First and Greatest Sea Officer. The First War Artist. The First Convoy. The First Contact. The First Blood. The First of June. The First Reaction: Honour and Glory. The Second Reaction: Acrimony and Disgrace. The Second Terror. Epilogue. Appendix I: The Chronology. Appendix II: The Fleets. Appendix III: The Pocock Sketches. Appendix IV: The Biographies. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

Dr Sam Willis is one of the world's leading authorities on the sailing navy. He is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Exeter's Centre for Maritime Historical Studies and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is the author of several books on naval and maritime history including the highly successful Fighting Ships series. He lives in Exeter.

'One of the things that makes Willis such a joy to read is the blazing clarity of his explanations. By the time you've finished his book you'll appreciate every nuance of naval tactics' Mail on Sunday.

• List of illustrations. Maps. Prologue: The First Regicide. Introduction. The First Terror. The First Surrender. The First and Greatest Sea Officer. The First War Artist. The First Convoy. The First Contact. The First Blood. The First of June. The First Reaction: Honour and Glory. The Second Reaction: Acrimony and Disgrace. The Second Terror. Epilogue. Appendix I: The Chronology. Appendix II: The Fleets. Appendix III: The Pocock Sketches. Appendix IV: The Biographies. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index.