Profs and Pints Northern Virginia presents: “The Shores of Tripoli,” on a famous early overseas test of the U.S. Navy, with Abby Mullen, assistant professor of history at the United States Naval Academy and author of the new book To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800-1805.

You may know the Marine Hymn’s opening line: “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli.” But what do you know about the war in which those Marines landed on those shores?

Learn in depth about one of the first major conflicts to test the U.S. Navy—a clash with Tripoli in the First Barbary War—from Abby Mullen, who extensively researched it for her newly released book.

Dr. Mullen, who teaches classes on naval history, will walk us through the First Barbary War’s causes, key events, and impact. You’ll learn about the so-called “Barbary pirates” and how they ended up with that inaccurate name, as well as how the United States ran afoul of them.

The United States built a tiny navy in 1794 to deal with the threat of pirates from Algiers, but they ultimately went to war against a different Barbary state—Tripoli—in 1801. Dr. Mullen will discuss the kinds of problems the Navy encountered in this fight thousands of miles from the ships’ nearest base, which included the British taking men off US Navy ships, beef so rotten it had to be thrown overboard, and smallpox that ravaged ship after ship.

You learn what happened when the United States surrendered one of its largest ships to Tripoli, and you’ll get the full story of the ensuing legendary march across Tripoli’s shores. The evening promises to be a thrilling one for history buffs or those who enjoy great tales of adventure or life at sea. Dr. Mullen will have copies of her book available for sale. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) 

Image: A Dennis Malone Carter painting depicts the U.S. Navy’s boarding of a Tripolitan gunboat in 1804. (Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, Washington Navy Yard.)