James Fenimore Cooper was a 19th century writer known for his historical romances and stories of the sea. His Leatherstocking tales including the novel The Last of the Mohicans are his best-known works. The Pilot was first published in 1824. Its subject is the life of a naval pilot during the Revolution of 1775-1783. The hero of this tale is modeled after the notorious John Paul Jones. He leads adventurous raids for the American Navy along the English coast.