Post by Joseph Danowsky

Put this book on your summer reading list! I didn’t know anything about New Jersey’s famous son, Robert Stockton, until I read this great book by my friend and former Bear Stearns & Company colleague, Vincent Dicks. Sea Girt Soul chronicles the life of Robert Stockton, whose remarkable life could easily fill 10 biographies. The book primarily covers the period from the War of 1812 through the Civil War, using that era as the backdrop for Stockton’s story. His adventures as a naval officer span Liberia, Hawaii, California, and a trek across the United States back to New Jersey. In addition to his military career, he was an accomplished businessman, helping build New Jersey’s first canal and railroad projects. He was also an inventor, contributing improvements to battleship design. What I found particularly interesting, however, was the social and historical context surrounding his life—the controversy over slavery, the prevalence of dueling to resolve disputes, and the social/political hierarchy of the time. I’m looking forward to reading Vincent’s other book, The Rule of 70. The book is also available to listeners on Audible.