FROM SALEM TO NASHVILLE OLD GLORY IBD

Sinopsis

Thisástory is about Captain William Driver asátold by his Great-Great-grandson, Jack Benz, in collaboration with other writers and advisers. The text is strikingly enhanced by over 200 professionally crafted images and by an appendix of founding father documents. The resources substantially came from Benz&rsquo,sácollection of items up to 200 year&rsquo,s old. Some episodes are in print for the first time. Captain Driver was born in Salem, MAáin 1803 to puritan parents within a culture and heritage of seafarers.áHis homes were ports and vessels that sailed the vast oceans in the early 19th century. It is a true story of adventure, daring, high drama, heroism, patriotism, and incomparable public service on behalf of the helpless. Young William was gifted beyond his year&rsquo,s as evidenced by his scholarliness in the Salem&rsquo,s famed Hacker school, and at 14, his hiring on a trading vessel. This background immersed him ináventures around the world, seeking fame and fortune trading rare spices and other prizedácommodities. By 21, he captainedáships thatácircled the world onáodysseys that exposed him to numerous dangerous encounters at sea, including horrific storms and turbulenceáwith waves over 50 feet high. Ashore, he confronted life-changing events in the lands of cannibals, giants, pirates, savages, and scantily clad island women. In a famous episode, he rescued familiesáofásurvivors of the original mutineers onáHMS ship Bounty and delivered them to their adopted home on Pitcairn Island.áThis venture was part and parcel in numerous movies, including one receivingáan academy award for the best picture of the year and touted best nautical film of all times.áCaptain Driver retired young and wealthyáand moved to Nashville, TN. with his third wife. Two others predeceased him, and the third is shocking. In this city on theárocks,áhe was an activist Union sympathizer generally shunned by the largelyááConfederate citizenry at a timeáCivil War was imminent. As a staunch abolitionistáliving where the cityáeven owned slaves, he was a misfit. He and hisáhome place often wereávilified because of his views, crusty manner, and irritating practice ofádisplaying Old Glory, his ship',s legendary flag.áThe residents viewed him as a cantankerous rabble-rouser, always rocking the boat and supporting unpopular causes on behalf of the downtrodden, exploited, and uneducated-mainly Native Americans, Negroes, women, the sick and infirmed. He was their defender, friend, spokesman, and hero. Driver was active in civic affairs, once running for mayor and later holding several governmental offices. Among hisásignificant civic achievements wereáhelpingáfacilitate the establishment of public education in Nashville, and as provost,áregulatingáprostitution and disease control.áThe Captain routinely picked fights overáissues with the churches, government, and establishments in general,áeven with some in his family members, their discord led toáestrangement.áHis uniquenes