The Society for Nautical Research is a British society that conducts research and sponsors projects related to

maritime history Maritime history is the study of human interaction with and activity at sea. It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach, although national and regional histories remain predominant. As an academic subject, it ...

worldwide. Founded in 1910, the Society initially encouraged research into seafaring,

ship-building Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to befor ...

, the language and customs of the sea, and other items of nautical interest. The Chairman of the Society is Dr David Davies MA DPhil FRHistS FSNR. Past chairmen include

Alan Villiers Alan John Villiers, DSC (23 September 1903 – 3 March 1982) was a writer, adventurer, photographer and mariner. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including ...

, Professor Michael Lloyd, Professor Richard Harding and the immediate past chairman, Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton.

Past projects

HMS ''Victory'' preservation

In 1922 the Society initiated a public appeal in the United Kingdom to raise funds to save Vice-Admiral

Horatio Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought ...

's flagship HMS ''Victory''. Launched in 1765, the ship was in very poor condition by 1922.

Sir James Caird James Caird may refer to: * Sir James Caird (politician) (1816–1892), Scottish writer and politician * Sir James Caird, 1st Baronet, of Belmont Castle (1837–1916), Scottish jute baron and philanthropist who sponsored Ernest Shackleton's ''Endur ...

, and the Save The Victory Fund raised sufficient funds to secure HMS ''Victory'' in dry dock in

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city status in the United Kingdom, city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is admi ...

and provide a permanent endowment for the ship. The Society established The Victory Technical Committee to research preservation measures for the Victory and to conserved its artifacts in the new

Victory Museum The Victory Museum ( tr, Zafer Müzesi) is a national military and war museum in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, which was used as headquarters by then Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk), his chief general staff and army commanders before ...

. In 1972, the Victory Museum expanded to become the Portsmouth Royal Naval Museum, under Admiralty administration. It later became the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. The Society still supports HMS ''Victory'' by funding research into areas such as paint samples and wood marks. Since 1922 the Society has provided over £1 million to the ship's upkeep.

The National Maritime Museum

In 1913 the Society helped reorganise and rationalise the collection of the Royal Naval Museum in the

Royal Naval College, Greenwich The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, was a Royal Navy training establishment between 1873 and 1998, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Royal Navy's staff college, which provided advanced training for officers. The equiv ...

. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, the collection was dispersed for safekeeping. In 1924 the Society catalogued and inventoried the collections. In 1925 during a meeting of the Society's Council, the concept of a National Maritime Museum was raised for the first time. The task of setting up a permanent home for the Admiralty's collection of ship models was given to a new Trust. In 1927 the Admiralty made an official announcement:

It having become necessary for a body of trustees to be appointed to take charge of the interests and property of the National Naval and Nautical Museum which is eventually to be accommodated in the Queen's House at Greenwich, The First Lord of the Admiralty has obtained consent of the following, Earl Stanhope DSO, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Sir George P.W. Hope, Chairman of the Council of the Society for Nautical Research, Sir Lionel Earle KCB KCVO, Secretary of the Office of Works, Mr Roger C. Anderson, FS A, Member of the Council of the Society for Nautical Research, Prof Geoffrey Callender, FSA, Royal Naval College Greenwich.

The Trust, which was largely staffed by officials of the Society, eventually created a home for the items, prints and drawings, including the Macpherson Collection, in the

National Maritime Museum The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is a maritime museum in Greenwich, London. It is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a network of museums in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Like other publicly funded national museums in the Unit ...

at Greenwich.

The Macpherson Collection endowment fund

In 1927 The Society launched an appeal to raise £120,00 in order to save 11,000 maritime prints, drawings and paintings collected by

yachtsman A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

and collector Arthur Macpherson from being sold abroad. Caird stepped in again and purchased the entire collection. This enabled the funds raised by public subscription to be used to establish the Macpherson Collection Endowment Fund, which purchases art, prints and drawings for the nation, which are held in the National Maritime Museum. The Macpherson Collection Endowment Fund is administered by the Society. In September 2021, the fund helped the

acquire a painting by Tilly Kettle that depicts

Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet (c. 1715 – 30 October 1770) was a British naval commander who fought in the Seven Years' War and conquered Manila on 6 October 1762. Early career Cornish joined the Navy in 1728, and having been promoted to lie ...

Richard Kempenfelt Rear-Admiral Richard Kempenfelt (1718 – 29 August 1782) was a British rear admiral who gained a reputation as a naval innovator. He is best known for his victory against the French at the Second Battle of Ushant and for his death when accid ...

and Thomas Parry on ''HMS Norfolk''. The painting went on permanent display in the

Queen's House Queen's House is a former royal residence built between 1616 and 1635 near Greenwich Palace, a few miles down-river from the City of London and now in the London Borough of Greenwich. It presently forms a central focus of what is now the Old Ro ...

gallery in Autumn 2022.

Research and awards

The Society supports new research by providing grants to students undertaking nautical research and seminars and conferences on maritime themes. It also provides financial support to the annual conference for new researchers in maritime history. The Society presents three medals: * The annual Anderson Medal book award, named after founder and naval scholar Dr

R. C. Anderson Roger Charles Anderson (23 July 1883 – 2 October 1976) was an independently-wealthy English maritime historian, collector, and a leading figure in the early years of the Society for Nautical Research and of the Navy Records Society. Four times ...

, * The occasionally awarded Anderson Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Maritime History. * and the Victory Medal, awarded to those who have displayed notable dedication in the conservation of a historic vessel. Since 2017 the Society has also organised its own conferences in partnership with other institutions. A recent example includes an event held in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city i ...

in 2019 with SS ''Great Britain'' and the Brunel Institute.

''The Mariner's Mirror''

''The'' ''Mariner's Mirror'' is the Society's peer-reviewed quarterly journal. First published in 1911, the journal publishes original papers, articles, notes and book reviews on a wide range of topics relating to humankind's relationship with the sea, including

archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts ...

, shipbuilding and design, historic vessels, naval tactics, administration and

logistics Logistics is generally the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation. In a general business sense, logistics manages the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of ...

, merchant seafaring, shiphandling and

seamanship Seamanship is the art, knowledge and competence of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea." It involves topics an ...

and other subjects of nautical interest. The ''Mariner's Mirror'' is ranked as an ERIH Plus journal by the European Reference Index for the Humanities and is published quarterly in collaboration with Taylor & Francis. The Editor is Dr Martin Bellamy.

Fellowships

In 2016 the society instituted Fellowships (FSNR) to recognise members' contribution to its work. As of 1 November 2018 there were 43 Fellows of the Society.

Other Activities

In 2020 the Society launched a podcast covering all themes and periods of maritime history.

Publications

* ''

Mariner's Mirror ''The Mariner's Mirror'' is the quarterly academic journal of the Society for Nautical Research in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1911 and is abstracted and indexed by Scopus. It is published in partnership with Taylor & Francis. The '' ...

'' (1911-date), quarterly * Newsletter:
Topmasts
'

Notes

External links

* {{Authority control Maritime history of the United Kingdom History organisations based in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1910 Naval history * * 1910 establishments in the United Kingdom Maritime history organizations