John Masefield

John Masefield was a 20th century English writer and poet, noted for his poem "Sea-Fever" which contains the line: "And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by." This line appeared on the dedication plaques of the USS Defiant (2370).

In 2268, James T. Kirk quotes from "Sea-Fever" to Leonard McCoy. 

In 2287, Leonard McCoy confused the Masefield for Herman Melville, but was corrected by Spock. 

In 2372, Quark paraphrased Masefield's poem, "Sea-Fever", while aboard his ship Quark's Treasure, saying "all I ask is a tall ship... and a load of contraband to fill her with."