Richard Henry Dana Jr. Collected editions

Richard Henry Dana Jr. (1815 – 1882) was an American lawyer, politician, and author whose memoir Two Years Before the Mast remains a classic of maritime literature. Detailing his voyage as a common sailor from Boston to California, the work offers an unvarnished look at life at sea and the conditions faced by working sailors.

Dana later became a prominent advocate for maritime law reform and the rights of seamen. His writing reflects both a keen observational eye and a commitment to justice.

Through his combination of lived experience and reformist zeal, Richard Henry Dana Jr. created one of the most enduring sea narratives in American letters.