Commodore David Dixon Porter made history when he took the USS <i>Essex</i> into the Pacific and crippled the British whaling industry during the War of 1812. While the first to suggest that the U.S. Navy force open Japan, he was also court-martialed for his unauthorized invasion of Spanish Puerto Rico. He later sought to reverse his fortunes in the Mexican Navy, and consistently suffered chaos in his personal and financial affairs. <i>Nothing Too Daring</i> offers an objective, thoroughly researched biography of one of America's most colorful naval officers.