Edward Shippen

author

Edward Shippen

1826–1911

A 19th-century sailor-physician turned writer, this author brought life at sea and great naval conflicts to a wide audience. His books mix firsthand experience with lively historical storytelling.

1 Audiobook

Naval battles of the world : Great and decisive contests on the sea ... with an account of the Japan-China war and the recent battle of the Yalu; the growth, power, and management of our new Navy.

Naval battles of the world : Great and decisive contests on the sea ... with an account of the Japan-China war and the recent battle of the Yalu; the growth, power, and management of our new Navy.

by Edward Shippen

About the author

Born on June 18, 1826, and dying on June 16, 1911, Edward Shippen was an American naval surgeon and writer. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and served at sea, experiences that later shaped the clear, practical voice of his books.

His best-known works include Thirty Years at Sea: The Story of a Sailor's Life and Naval Battles of the World (also published as Naval Battles, Ancient and Modern). One draws on a long career connected to life aboard ships, while the other presents major sea battles for general readers in an accessible, story-driven way.

Shippen also appears in archival collections at the Library of Congress, which preserve family papers and related materials connected to his life. Taken together, the record suggests a writer who joined professional service, historical curiosity, and a gift for making maritime subjects readable and engaging.