Mersey Built: The Role of Merseyside in the American Civil War

"The author has created an exciting amalgam of American maritime history and British business and commercial intrigue with a compendium of appropriate British shipbuilding of the day. These unlikely components are welded into a fascinating journey through the American civil war period. Well worth reading for those of diverse interests."

Alex Urquhart

Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Naval Architecture – The Robert Gordon University, UK

"Historical accounts of the American Civil War often play down the significance of the maritime conflict. The powerful US naval blockade (1861) of the Confederate coastline was an economic disaster compared to Union losses, which were rated by some historians as relatively low. However the support, ingenuity and bravery of Confederate actions in their economic war to break through that blockade and attack the enemy, provide a unique and fascinating story, which this author tells with great effect.

The initial plan of Confederate entrepreneurs and supporters in Merseyside was to seek ships to run the blockade and do everything possible to disrupt Union intentions! The design of ships to tackle the special problems of the Atlantic conflict led to advances that would eventually transform naval architecture, decades into the future. These technical aspects are not presented in a dry structured manner but are fully integrated within the narrative. As the story evolves the reader’s knowledge structure grows; each element emerging in context, be it engineering, the education and experience of young sailors, the skill and bravery of captains, and even family matters. However, an inevitable but critical factor disrupted almost everything – international diplomacy. British neutrality to the war necessitated complex procedures for the construction of merchant vessels which also had military intention. The gathering and use of intelligence and counter- intelligence were therefore essential. Indeed the antagonism that grew between Britain and the US on these matters, almost led to all-out war.

Stimulated by his family links to these major historical events, the author has provided a richly researched and distinctive examination of how the people met their trans-Atlantic challenges. Filled with many individual tales that are real page-turners, this is a unique treatment of such an important historical event and a truly wonderful book to read."

Dr. Michael Wood OBE,

Sen. Lecturer Emeritus, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen

"In Mersey Built Bob Thorp resolves a problem that has long vexed authors, publishers and readers alike. He has balanced book lovers’ often conflicting demands for technical detail and a rattling good yarn. How apt that the achievement belongs to an accomplished engineer with a love of history and its tales.

Thorp’s 19th century forebears in Liverpool, England, included a shipbuilder and a merchant marine captain who did not adopt their government’s neutrality in the American Civil War. Indeed, they shared the Confederate sympathies of many of their contemporaries. During the four years of hostilities they wed politics to business, made fine profits for themselves and very nearly caused a second British – American war within a century.

Through them the Confederacy found in the port of Liverpool ready finance, shipbuilding and vessel crews prepared to defy British neutrality laws, break the Union blockade of southern states ports, sink the North’s naval ships if necessary and bring much-needed war material to the beleaguered South.

Mersey Built is a tale of robust people, human ingenuity and courage, high principle and amorality, spy and counter spy, politics and diplomacy, and of war with no quarter sought or given.

But it is also an account of how vessels designed and disguised as merchantmen were built and operated as warships.

Thorp’s meticulous research and concise writing style have produced a clear narrative of events that did much to shape Anglo-American relations.

Mersey Built is for those who find joy in books, reading and learning. It is equally comfortable as a volume for home enjoyment or as required reading in any one of many disciplines at a good university.

Keith Webster,

Journalist and Corporate Communications Consultant