Lectures on various topics related to the American Revolution - check the Events page to see what's coming up. See an example!
Tell me the topic you'd like - or choose something from the list below. The talks below have proven popular with all sorts of audiences, from those with a general interest in history to subject-matter experts. Each talk is designed to last about 45 minutes, and is supported by illustrated PowerPoint slides. They can be tailored to meet different needs (shorter or longer, outdoor venue, etc.). Let me know what you need!
Topics include:
The British Soldiers who marched to Concord, April 19, 1775
When 700 British soldiers marched out of Boston on the night of April 18-19, 1775, no war was in progress. Their mission was to destroy military stores stockpiled in Concord, Massachusetts. Who were these soldiers, who had enlisted in a peacetime army but found themselves at war before the day was over? Learn about their ages, places of origin and other attributes, as well as meeting several individuals who were on the march that day.
Sober, Industrious Women: Wives of British Soldiers and their Role in the Army
When British regiments were deployed overseas, many soldiers brought their wives and families with them. The women filled vital roles in the military infrastructure, as nurses, sutlers, washer women, and others. Learn why wives accompanied the army, the roles they fulfilled, and the challenges they faced.
British Army Demographics in the American Revolution
A personal look at the nationalities, ages, trades, and military experience of British soldiers, presenting generalities as well as individual biographical sketches of actual soldiers. Tailored to the place of your choosing - Boston in 1775, Rhode Island in 1778, Monmouth in 1778, Yorktown in 1781, etc.
Newspapers Respond to the Stamp Act
When Great Britain attempted to generate tax revenue from the American colonies, the scale of resistance was dramatic and unexpected. Learn how the Stamp Act crisis was reported in newspapers in America and Great Britain, and the surprising ways that the press attempted to provide unbiased coverage of this legal dispute.
Sparing the Lash: Corporal Punishment and it's Effect on Soldiers' Careers
The use of corporal punishment, particularly lashing, in the British army is well-known, but rarely is it looked at in the context of the individual soldiers who did, and did not, receive such punishments. Information from regimental records reveals the proportion of men who actually received corporal punishment, and the effect it had on their subsequent careers.
Ravaging the Ranks: The Toll of Illness on Two British Battalions
Illness took more lives of soldiers than battle, but seldom are details provided. Hospital records from two British military organizations illustrate exactly what illnesses their soldiers suffered, which ones were fatal, the differences made by season and location, and other details.
Book Talks
Noble Volunteers: the British Soldiers who fought the American Revolution
Learn why men joined the British army, how they trained, what their lives were like, and what became of them after they left the army. Published in 2020, this book is the first modern study of soldiers' motivations, career paths, and day-to-day activities on campaign and in garrison while on service during the American Revolution.
The Revolution's Last Men: The Soldiers Behind the Photographs
This book was intended to be a simple revision of an 1864 work featuring photographs and biographies of six Revolutionary War veterans, but it grew into a much more diverse and interesting work. This talk tells how the project evolved from a simple update to a landmark study.
These Distinguished Corps: British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution
In most major battles and campaigns, British grenadiers and light infantry were in the forefront. These elite troops were detached from their regiments and organized into temporary, wartime-only battalions. This is the first detailed study of these organizations that were so critical to the army's tactical success.
Roger Lamb's American Revolution: A British Soldier's Story
Roger Lamb left the most extensive writings of any British soldier who served in the American Revolution. Twice he was taken prisoner, and twice he escaped and returned to his own army. This talk puts his experiences into context, showing the extent to which they were typical of British soldiers in America. Note that this book is currently out of print.
Wives, Slaves and Servant Girls: Advertisements for Female Runaways in American Newspapers, 1770–1783
In an age when people could be owned or contractually bound to others, but before there were photographs, textual descriptions were used to advertise runaways. These advertisements give remarkably vivid images of people who would otherwise be entirely forgotten. This talk looks at the type of information and insights in this collection of runaway ads from the Revolutionary War era.