Alfred Mahan

Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) was a United States naval officer and historian, whose writings on naval strategy greatly influenced naval warfare and international relations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His seminal work, 'The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783,' argued that a nation's power is directly linked to its naval strength and maritime capabilities. Mahan's theories shaped naval policies around the world and are credited with encouraging the naval expansion of the United States and other nations during his time.