author

Howard Patterson

1856–1916

A seasoned sea captain and nautical educator, he wrote practical books that opened up the language, customs, and working life of ships for a wide readership. His work ranges from compact navigation guides to detailed reference books and an etiquette manual shaped by real experience at sea.

2 Audiobooks

Strange stories of the Civil War

Strange stories of the Civil War

by Robert Shackleton, L. E. (Lucius Eugene) Chittenden, William Drysdale, G. A. Forsyth, John Habberton, William J. Henderson, Lucy C. (Lucy Cecil) Lillie, Howard Patterson

On yacht etiquette : What to do, and how to do it; courtesies, discipline, ceremonies and routine for any and all circumstances; duties of officers, etc.

On yacht etiquette : What to do, and how to do it; courtesies, discipline, ceremonies and routine for any and all circumstances; duties of officers, etc.

by Howard Patterson

About the author

Born in 1856, Howard Patterson was an American maritime writer best known for turning specialized nautical knowledge into clear, usable books. His published works include Patterson's Illustrated Nautical Dictionary, Patterson's Illustrated Nautical Encyclopedia, The Navigator's Pocket-Book, On Yacht Etiquette, and an account of the blowing up of the ironclad Albemarle.

Sources available during this search describe him as Captain Howard Patterson and connect him with serious nautical training and leadership. The prefatory material to On Yacht Etiquette presents him as principal of the New York Nautical College, a former commander of the New York school ship St. Marys, a master of sail and steam yachts, and at one point an admiral in the Haitian Navy.

What stands out most in his writing is its practical spirit. Rather than treating seafaring as distant romance, he explained the terms, routines, discipline, and customs of life on the water in ways that would have helped both professionals and curious readers. He died in 1916.