Adm. John Palmer (Ret.), U.S. Navy, discusses his new book that tells the riveting narrative of Peter Francisco, who was born in the Portuguese Azores in 1760, was kidnapped and brought to Virginia in 1765, and joined the Continental Army’s Virginia Line at the outbreak of the American Revolution. Considered to be a larger-than-life soldier at 6 feet 6 inches tall, he served in the Battles of Brandywine, Germanton, Monmouth, Stony Point, and Guilford Courthouse. Admiral Palmer tells the true story of this fascinating figure’s military service by separating fact from fiction and debunking the many myths and legends that have arisen about him over the last two centuries.
About the Speaker
John Palmer is a graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Management, as well as Columbia University Graduate School of Business Senior Executive Program. Having retired from the U.S. Navy in 2020 at the rank of rear admiral, his career in the U.S. Navy included nearly nine years at sea while assigned to four ships. Noteworthy afloat operations included Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Eastern Exit, Sharp Guard, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Joint Task Force Katrina. Additionally, he was entrusted with command during three tours leading four units spanning six years. While in command, he led subordinate units and detachments in over two dozen overseas locations. His final tour was in command of Defense Logistics Agency Land & Maritime, where he was responsible for approximately multi-billion-dollar annual procurements in support of U.S. Army & Marine Corps tracked & wheeled vehicles as well as Navy surface and subsurface weapon systems. Currently, he is the owner of JT Palmer Enterprises, LLC., and serves as a corporate advisory board member and independent consultant. In addition to George Washington’s One-Man Army, he is the author of From Bluegrass to Blue Water – Lessons in Farm Philosophy and Navy Leadership. In conjunction with his authorship, he serves as a public speaker to an array of civic groups throughout the southeast, a commentator as a subject matter expert for media outlets and is also a frequent guest lecturer at colleges and universities including Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, the United States Naval Academy, and the Citadel.