Although the Naval Institute’s series “Library of Naval Biography” includes treatments of some of the heavy hitters of American naval history, it has also provided looks at some lesser known, often even obscure officers, who made significant contributions to the development of the U.S. Navy. Thomas ap Catesby Jones, who served from his appointment as a 15-year old midshipman in 1805 until retirement 50 years later as a commodore, was such an officer, with a rich and varied career in peace and war, both afloat and ashore. Worth reading for anyone interested in the history of the Navy.