International Journal of Maritime History

Partial extracts from a review of Champion of the Quarterdeck. Bates has based his book on a thorough and prodigious examination of the primary documents. His sources were nearly as global as Gower’s career.” As an introduction to the life of a long service officer in the Royal Navy this book has great merit. It Read More …

Video interview about Champion of the Quarterdeck

My good friend Paul Michaels has just published this interview which he did with me recently regarding my biography of Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower – Champion of the Quarterdeck Thank you Paul. This is a very professional video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYtFHUKo00w My good friend Paul Michaels has just published this interview which he did with me recently regarding Read More …

Fantastic Review of Champion of the Quarterdeck

by world-renowned naval historian John B Hattendorf. Bates provides a highly detailed narrative description, with extensive quotations from original documents, describing Erasmus Gower’s naval career. The book offers much detail of great interest to specialists in naval history. Bates’s volume on Admiral Gower sheds light on the life and career of a very interesting and Read More …

Steve Weis review

I have to tell you how much I have enjoyed Champion of the Quarterdeck…the life and times, the dedication and commitment, the good and kind heart, the fierce enthusiasm for close combat, the understatement and the pure survival power of Sir Erasmus Gower was a surprise pleasure of high degree. The scholarly devotion and all Read More …

Being an author

Sales of Champion of the Quarterdeck: Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (1742-1814) are ticking along quietly. Next Wednesday I am booked to do a book signing at Berkelouw’s Books at Eumundi, Sunshine Coast, and I look forward to speaking with as many people as possible. It was recently brought home to me how difficult it can be Read More …

Comments about Champion of the Quarterdeck

Former Lieutenant Commander (Royal Australian Navy Reserve) Dr Rob Labrom commented after reading a review copy of Champion of the Quarterdeck: Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (1742-1814), I enjoyed it very much. What a great achievement”. Copies are selling well in Australia and the UK. You can still get yours in time for Christmas if you Read More …

Further book review.

Historian, biographer and obituarist, retired RN Captain Peter Hore, tweeted this review of Champion of the Quarterdeck: Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (1742-1814) this morning. Historians, sociologists and sinologists want this book by Ian Bates for Christmas. https://twitter.com/PeterGHore/status/936283167870341123 To view more details or to purchase this book securely see Sage Old Books Return to Author Home Read More …

Positive review

Prolific historian and biographer Captain Peter Hore had this to say yesterday on Facebook about Champion of the Quarterdeck. Am reading a great book about Erasmus Gower, father of Nelson’s Navy – collector’s copies available at https://www.sageoldbooks.com/champion_sale.shtml well-researched, good footnotes, foreword by David Gower Several other academic reviews are currently underway and will be posted Read More …