Admiral of the Ocean Sea

work by Morison

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July 23, 2026

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Admiral of the Ocean Sea is a 1942 biography of Christopher Columbus written by American historian Samuel Eliot Morison. Morison, a renowned maritime historian, meticulously researched Columbus's voyages, even retracing his routes himself to provide vivid and authentic accounts. This work earned Morison a Pulitzer Prize.1

The title "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" was a high-ranking naval title, and Columbus was granted this title by the Spanish monarchs. Morison's biography delves into the historical context and the significance of Columbus's explorations, drawing from various written sources and Columbus's own annotated books.23

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Samuel Eliot Morison
…Maritime History of Massachusetts (1921); Admiral of the Ocean Sea (1942), a biography of Columbus for which Morison was awarded a Pulitzer Prize; John Paul Jones (1959), which also received a Pulitzer; The Oxford History of the American People (1965); the monumental History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War…
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…Maritime History of Massachusetts (1921); Admiral of the Ocean Sea (1942), a biography of Columbus for which Morison was awarded a Pulitzer Prize; John Paul Jones (1959), which also received a Pulitzer; The Oxford History of the American People (1965); the monumental History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War…
Read More