New Researchers Conference

Research degree students and independent scholars are warmly encouraged to share their work at our annual New Researchers Conference.

Student and Research Prizes

Are you a student working on maritime history? Apply for our Undergraduate and Postgraduate prizes.

King's Maritime History Seminars 2026

Posted: Thursday 29th January 2026

King's Maritime History Seminars 2026

The King’s Seminars are an annual set of lectures organised by the BCMH, which run from October to May. They are open to the public and are normally held at King’s College London (and broadcast live via Zoom). The Kings Seminars are a range of lectures by invited speakers. There are usually two each month during term time.

The series is organised by Dr Alan James, and supported by the Society for Nautical Research and the ‘Laughton Naval History Unit’ and ‘Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War’ at the Department of War Studies, King's College London.

Register here to attend.

15 January 2026

Researching Invisible Seafaring Family Histories

Asif Shakoor, Independent Scholar, in conversation with Dr Georgie Wemyss, Co-Director of Centre for Research on Migration, Refugees and Belonging (CMRB) at the University of East London

29 January 2026

‘Men of the most splendid talents and professional respectability’: Naval surgeons, professional identity, and collective bargaining in the French Wars (1793–1815)

Manon Williams, Institute of Historical Research, School of Adanced Studies

12 February 2026

The Flying Squadron’: the Crimean War in the Sea of Azov campaign, May-November 1855

Alexander Sutherland, King’s College London         

26 February 2026

Jorge Juan’s British-style Navy: An 18th Century experiment in technology transfer

Catherine Scheybeler, King’s College London

12 March 2026

Maritime Security: A Global Challenge that Should Not be Ducked

Malcolm Murfett, King’s College London

26 March 2026

The Prince Royal of Denmark’s Yacht (1785): A Maritime History Mystery and an Art History Rediscovery

Julie Papworth and Roger Dence, King’s College London

30 April 2026

Before the Asiento: the English Atlantic slave trade from its origins through to 1713

Neil Datson, Independent Researcher

14 May 2026

A ‘proper object’ of charity?: British naval widows’ petitions, deservingness, and survival strategies, 1819-1847

Carrie Long, Royal Holloway, University of London

The Peter N. Davies Memorial Lecture

28 May 2026

Title to be confirmed

David Morgan-Owen, University of St. Andrews

Find out more about the series and other BCMH events