Jennings, John, 1906-1973

American novelist, author of, primarily, historical fiction. Also used pseudonyms Bates Baldwin and Joel Williams.

American author also known as Bates Baldwin and Joel Williams.

John Edward Jennings, Jr. was born on Dec. 30, 1906 in Brooklyn, NY; attended Colorado School of Mines (1924-25), New York Univ. (1925-26), and Columbia Univ. (1927-28); graduated from Washington Diplomatic and Consular Institute, 1935; became author, writing under his own name and the pseudonyms Bates Baldwin and Joel Williams; publications include Our American tropics (1938), Next to valour (1939), Boston, cradle of liberty, 1630-1776 (1945), The Salem frigate (1946), The sea eagles : a story of the American Navy during the Revolution (1950), The pepper tree : a story of New England and the Spice Islands (1950), and Banners against the wind (1954); he died on Dec. 4, 1973.

John Edward Jennings (1906-1973) was an American historical novelist and author of numerous nautical works. Born in Brooklyn, New York, his sea-going experience began at the age of 19 when he worked as a mate on a tramp steamer. He later studied engineeering and literature at Columbia University and graduated from the Washington Diplomatic and Consular Institute. During World War II he achieved the rank of lieutenant commander and was head of the Naval Aviation History Unit.

Jennings began his writing career with short stories, articles, and travel narratives; his first novel, Next to Valor, was published in 1939 and proved very popular, being translated into seven languages. His books were noted for their attention to nautical and historical detail and thirteen were best-sellers.

His historical fiction includes The Coasts of Folly (1942), written under the pseudonym Joel Williams; The Sea Eagles (1950), set during the early days of the U.S. Navy; Banners Against the Wind (1954), about abolitionist and physician Samuel Gridley Howe; and The Raider (1963), chronicling the adventures of a World War II German naval vessel. His non-fiction includes the young-adult history Clipper Ship Days (1952) and Tattered Ensign (1966), about "Old Ironsides" (the USS Constitution ) and the early American navy.

[Portions of this biographical sketch adapted from the article "Jennings, John Edward, Jr." in Encyclopedia of American Literature of the Sea and Great Lakes, edited by Jill B. Gidmark (Greenwood Press, 2000).]