Abstract
Alfred Thayer Mahan formulated his concept of sea power while reading a history book in an English gentleman’s club in Lima, Peru. This concept became the foundation for his celebrated The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1680-1783. However, Mahan never properly identified the “English Club” in his autobiographical writings. This note briefly describes the Phoenix Club (its proper name) and portrays the situation in Peru when Mahan first envisioned his concept of sea power.
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Cite this article
Larrie D. Ferreiro, “Mahan and the "English Club" of Lima, Peru: The Genesis of The Influence of Sea Power upon History,” The Journal of Military History 72, no. 3 (July 2008): 901–906.