Dana's father was the founder of the North American Review in 1815, a renowned essayist and
poet in Boston. As a youth, Dana suffered from ill-health and left his studies at Harvard in 1834
to sail for California and a better climate. During this period he spent 150 days on board ship,
which formed his experiences for his book Two Years Before the Mast, which was published in
1840. On returning to Boston, Dana completed his studies, was admitted to the bar and began
a successful practice in Boston. In 1841, Dana published The Seaman's Friend, which became a
standard guide to maritime law for sailors. Active in the Abolitionist movement, Dana
regularly defended escaped slaves being tried under the Fugitive Slaves Act of 1850. In 1866,
he published Elements of International Law, which became a standard reference, especially with
respect to American diplomacy abroad. |
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