Join the Brazoria County Historical Museum on Thursday, November 17, at 6:30 p.m. as it hosts author Dr. Paul Pedisich as he presents his book Congress Buys a Navy: Politics, Economics, and The Rise of American Naval Power, 1881-1921. Dr. Pedisich taught U.S. History, Texas History, and Humanities at Brazosport College, Lake Jackson, Texas. Previously, he completed a thirty-one year active duty career in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft carrier pilot and retired with the rank of Captain, U.S. Navy.

Dr. Pedisich’s book, Congress Buys a Navy, takes an in-depth look into the history of the developing new steel Navy from 1881 to 1921. The narrative begins with President James Garfield’s appointment of William Hunt as Secretary of the Navy and the formation of the Forty-seventh Congress in March 1881. The chapters illuminates the character and agenda of nine presidencies, sixteen Navy secretaries, and the many congressmen who influenced building a Navy while attending to both their own substantial and unsubstantial presses of the day.  Although Navy officers prepared extensive annual recommendations for fleet composition and increases, they were not principle decision makers. Also the influence of the presidents and their cabinets proved to be inconsistent while members of congress arbitrated among themselves to form their annual rulings. By its Navy appropriation acts over a forty year period the legislature dictated a naval order of battle of capital ships, capable of offensive operations equal to the best in the world, as it entered the First World War.

The Brazoria County Historical Museum is located at 100 East Cedar, Angleton. Admission to the program is free, light refreshments generously provided by H.E.B.  Limited quantities of the book will be available for purchase that evening.  For more information, call (979) 864-1208 or visit the Museum’s website at www.bchm.org.