A sometimes simplistic account of the career of a failed gunnery experiment, The early nineteenth century saw many navies attempting to fit small ships with broadside weapons of astonishing power. The brig Essex was such a ship. For part of its career it carried 40 × 32-pounder carronades and six 12 pounder long guns. This wasn't a great idea, and ships with longer range capacity soon superseded this pattern. After a successful cruise in the South Pacific rounding up British whalers, the Essex was cornered and eventually captured by a sloop, HMS Cherub, and HMS Phoebe of 36 guns. She served for five years in the Royal navy after the peace. This book heavily relies on her cruise among the whalers. ( )

Story of the USS Essex a 32 gun naval frigate (sail) that was built and paid for by the people of Salem Mass in 1799, and then given to the U.S. Navy. ( )