Page 34 - Southern Exposure - October '24

Page 34, Southern Exposure

Book revIew

American Sanctuary: Mutiny, Martyrdom,

And National Identity In The Age Of Revolution

By Nils A. Shapiro

I cannot recall ever one of the most objectionable policies of the British
enjoying a scholarly work crown and its navy was the practice of “impressment”: the
of early American history stopping and boarding of other nations’ vessels, capturing
so interestingly and vividly members of their crews and forcing them to sail and work
told, so extraordinarily as seamen on British ships, most likely never to see their
researched and impressively families again.
detailed, exciting as any Such was the case of many on the Hermione’s crew as
novel, and as timely in it sailed near the island of Puerto Rico on that September
subject as next month’s day in 1797. Adding to what was already a tinder box of
presidential election! a situation was the fact that this ship’s captain, Admiral
The date was September Hugh Pigot, was a disciplinarian so stern that whipping
21, 1797. The event was and other punishments for minor crew offenses became
a vicious mutiny by the crew of a British naval vessel, unbearable and sparked the bloody insurrection that ended
HMS Hermione, in the Caribbean off the coast of Puerto in the death of the captain and other officers.
Rico. Little remembered today, its aftershock was to One of the main leaders of the mutiny was a man whose Adams’s decision to turn Robbins over to Britain—
lead directly to the election of Thomas Jefferson over name throughout this book varies between Thomas Nash where he was executed by hanging without a trial—
the incumbent John Adams as president of the United (if he was actually Irish) and Jonathan Robbins, depending Adams’s Federalist Party’s defense of his decision, and the
States … and the resulting lasting image of America as a upon whether his claim to have been an American from consequences of Jefferson’s Republican Party’s national
sanctuary of freedom for those fleeing from persecution Connecticut was true or not. electoral campaign focused on driving the public’s anger,
in other lands—an issue that dominates today’s political Eventually, after the mutiny Robbins made his way to form the major part of this compelling story.
Turning 65 or new to Medicare?
campaigns just as it did the one in 1800. the U.S. and was tracked down by the British government, Eventually—and critical in light of today’s political
I must admit which demanded that President John Adams turn over the climate and immigration crisis—the American people
Save up to $164.90
that, although it was “mutineer and murderer” to Britain for punishment. It was eventually decided that, whether or not Jonathan Robbins
published in 2017, I had awkward timing, for Adams was then in the process of (or Thomas Nash, if that was his real name) was in fact an
never heard of American ratifying an economic trade treaty with Britain that had American citizen, anyone fleeing from oppression should
on your Part B
Sanctuary and was just been negotiated. be able to find sanctuary in the United States and not have
fortunate to come Adams had to weigh the success of the treaty against to fear being turned away. It is to this day at the heart of our
across it by accident the American public’s anger about the British policy and nation’s self-image, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in
premium
on a table stacked actions of impressment on the high seas and the idea of New York Harbor and the inscription on her base addressed
with books while turning over to Britain a claimed American citizen who to “the huddled masses yearning to be free.”
shopping in a market. “had the right to regain his freedom after having been the This is the story of how and when that all started. I
Its author, A. Roger victim of such impressment” and return home. loved every word of it.
Our Medicare Advantage plan,
Ekirch, is a professor HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO),
of history at Virginia
gives you up to $164.90 back each month
Tech, has written Turning 65 or new to Medicare?
four earlier books, through the Part B giveback benefit. This
received a Guggenheim will return part of your Part B premium
Fellowship and is Save up to $174.70 Call a licensed independent
widely recognized as one of our finest historians. to you through a credit to your Social sales agent
Turning 65 or new to Medicare?
Security check or by reducing the monthly
The details that enrich this narrative, garnered from the on your Part B
author’s extraordinary research, add enormously to the Save up to $164.90
premium you pay directly to Medicare.
overall experience, as do the many contemporary portraits premium
That’s not the only way our plan is looking
and illustrations from that period. on your Part B Peter Gratzon
Revolutionary and early American history being one out for your wallet, your goals and your
premium
of my preferred reading tastes I was surprised never to Our Medicare Advantage plan, HumanaChoice
health. It also comes with benefits beyond
have heard of the very significant event that is the pivotal Florida H5216-311 (PPO), gives you up to
Original Medicare, such as:
Our Medicare Advantage plan,
subject of this book: the mutiny aboard HMS Hermione. $174.70 back each month through the Part B 561‑361‑7173 (TTY: 711)
HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO),
•
Nor, shockingly, was it ever mentioned in any class, even gives you up to $164.90 back each month
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through college. giveback benefit. This will return part of your Monday – Friday
through the Part B giveback benefit. This
up to $164.90 back into your Social
will return part of your Part B premium
At the time the mutiny took place—after the United Part B premium to you through a credit to your 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Call a licensed independent
Security check each month*
States had already won the Revolutionary War several to you through a credit to your Social pgratzon@gmail.com
sales agent
Security check or by reducing the monthly
•
years earlier and declared itself an independent nation— Social Security check or by reducing the monthly
No referral required to see in-
premium you pay directly to Medicare.
premium you pay directly to Medicare. That’s not Peter Gratzon
That’s not the only way our plan is looking
network specialists
out for your wallet, your goals and your
•
the only way our plan is looking out for your wallet,
Routine dental, hearing and
health. It also comes with benefits beyond
Original Medicare, such as:
your goals and your health. It also comes with 561‑361‑7173 (TTY: 711)
vision coverage
• Part B premium reduction, putting
benefits beyond Original Medicare, such as: Monday – Friday
up to $164.90 back into your Social
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Security check each month* pgratzon@gmail.com
• Part B premium reduction, putting
• No referral required to see in-
network specialists
up to $174.70 back into your Social Security check 561-361-7173
• Routine dental, hearing and
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A more human way
A more human way
to healthcare™
to healthcare™
* The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the
* The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the
amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B.
The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the
amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B.
amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B.
Humana is a Medicare Advantage PPO organization with a Medicare contract.
The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the
Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to
amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B.
HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO). . At Humana, it is important you are
treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal
Humana is a Medicare Advantage PPO organization with a Medicare contract.
civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity,
Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to
marital status, religion or language. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak
HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO). . At Humana, it is important you are
English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call
877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a
treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal
su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 877‑320‑1235
civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
(TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese)：注意：如果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費獲得語言援助服
務 。請致電 877‑320‑1235（聽障專線：711） 。
age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity,
marital status, religion or language. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak
English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call
877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a
su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 877‑320‑1235
Y0040_GHHJEWGTE_24_AD_M
(TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese)：注意：如果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費獲得語言援助服
務 。請致電 877‑320‑1235（聽障專線：711） 。
Y0040_GHHJEWGTE_24_AD_M