Commerce, Conflict, and the High-Risk Sealing Voyage Guest: Eric Jay Dolin Left for Dead is set during the War of 1812, documenting a collision between young America and Britain in the contested Falkland Islands. The narrative begins with the highly lucr

The John Batchelor Show

1. Commerce, Conflict, and the High-Risk Sealing Voyage Guest: Eric Jay Dolin

Left for Dead is set during the War of 1812, documenting a collision between young America and Britain in the contested Falkland Islands. The narrative begins with the highly lucrative sealing commerce, which involved gathering millions of seal skins and sea otter pelts for sale primarily in China. American sealer Charles Barnard proposed a high-risk voyage aboard the brig Nanina to Murray and Son, aiming to exploit the projected pent-up demand due to reduced competition. Despite the imminent war, they left New York Harbor just as an embargo was placed. The crew included Barnard's elderly, infirm father, Valentine, who was intended to sail the initial cargo back to New York. The presence of four experienced sealing captains among the crew, including diarist Barzillai Pease, created a potential "recipe for disaster."