The U.S. Navy brig Somers was part of an experimental apprentice program to teach young men, mostly teenagers, to be naval officers. During a return voyage to Africa in 1842, Captain Alexander Slidell Mackenzie learned of a mutiny plot, orchestrated by Philip Spencer and other young crewmen. Spencer was the son of Secretary of War John Spencer, and already had a reputation as a troublemaker. Acting swiftly, Mackenzie ordered the execution of the alleged ringleaders, Philip Spencer, Samuel Cromwell, and Elisha Small. The event sparked a heated debate about naval discipline, the potential miscarriage of justice, and the proper handling of mutiny, led by famed author James Fenimore Cooper. The incident was one of the factors in the establishment of the United States Naval Academy in 1845.
Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.
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