The Men Who Lost America

by Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy
Category: "U.S. History - Military"
Pages:362
Year of Publication:2013
Date Added:12/15/2014
Date Read:06/12/2025
Notes:Subtitle: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire

Biographies of leading British political and military leaders — King George III, Prime Minister Lord North, brothers General and Admiral Howe, General John Burgoyne, Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord George Germain, General Clinton, General Corwallis, Admiral Rodney, and Secretary of the Navy the Earl of Sandwich. The author convincing argues that these men were not incompetent but faced almost-insurmountable difficulties, including the gap in communications and supply issues due to a two- to four-month voyage from England, lack of manpower for an occupying force, over-estimate of the loyal population of the states, resources spread too thin, especially when France and Spain entered the war, disagreement in Parliament over whether Britain should be fighting in America at all, and a political system that hadn't yet centralized control.
My Rating: 7

Reviews for The Men Who Lost America

Review - Men Who Lost America, The

Slow at times and a bit redundant. But interesting looks at the British leaders, a good refresher on the war, and some good insights into how America managed to prevail.

Reviewed by Roger on 2025-06-12 12:07:45

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