Christopher P. Magra completed his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh. He is now an Assistant Professor of Early American/Atlantic History and Director of the Atlantic History Center at Cal State Northridge University. He has published articles related to maritime history in the International Journal of Maritime History, the New England Quarterly, and the Northern Mariner. The Canadian Nautical Research Society honored him with the Keith Matthews Award for the best 2007 article published in the Northern Mariner.