Blake, George Smith, Commodore

Autograph manuscript with two detailed manuscript coastal maps being volumes 1, 2 and 4 of the naval diary of Commodore George Smith Blake, ca. 1828 to 1852; volumes 1 and 2 uniformly  bound in tan full calf, lined tooled border blocked in blind with rectangular stamp, each secured with metal clasp, manuscript paper spine label (defective), extremities rubbed, minor losses to spines; volume 4 bound in diced russia, paneled gilt with double fillet, smooth spine ruled in gilt, back strip detached, joints intact.

from midshipman to superintendent of annapolis, a fifty year naval career  Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on 5 March 1802, Blake receive his first warrant as Midshipman in the United States Navy  in 1818, beginning a 52 year career  spanning the Atlantic, the West Indies, the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico. Blake was unusually adept at coastal mapping and manuscript examples of his work are present herein, detailing the Italian coast during his Mediterranean deployment.

The present diaries begin on 1 January 1828 when he was attached to the schooner Grampus and served in the West India Squadron (volume 1). In 1830 he was ordered to the Mediterranean and served on that station in the ship Warren and the frigate Java (volume 2). Volume 4 begins with a copy of Blake's order of 19 May 1849 to report to Commodore C.W. Morgan, at Norfolk, as captain of Fleet, Mediterranean Squadron. . In September 1849, Blake was ordered by Commodore Morgan to command the flagship Independence, in addition to his duty as Captain of Fleet. The fourth volume ends with Blake back in the United States and ready to report to the Bureau of Construction and Equipments.

Reflecting a hugely varied Naval career, Blake eventually became Superintendent of Annapolis in 1858 and continued the comman throughout the Civil War. While in that role he is credited with insuring saboteurs failed to host the Star and Bars above the U.S.S. Constitution.