And in that Barbary War, William Eaton - US Consul to Tunis who a pal of Jefferson raised a mercenary army for the US Navy & USMC assault on Tripoli. There was a grand total of 8 US Marines in the force. The USMC even with a leader named Pressley O’Bannon are the greatest but 8 even led by the possible forerunner of Elvis Pressley can’t take a city!
So Eaton acted not only as a diplomat but in this case as a modern CIA COS, setting up, managing & executing a covert action. Probably all with his own money.
Did I read you correctly to say that Elvis Pressley first conquered the shores of Tripoli before winning the hearts of millions of young American girls?
What a guy!
;-)