Professor Andrew Lambert FKC
Laughton Professor of Naval History
Research interests
- Conflict
- Security
Biography
Biography
Andrew Lambert is Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King's College. After completing research in the Department he taught at Bristol Polytechnic,(now the University of West of England), the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and also Director of the Laughton Naval Unit housed in the Department. In 2020 he was made a Fellow of Kings College London (FKC).
His work focuses on the naval and strategic history of the British Empire between the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War, and the early development of naval historical writing. His work has addressed a range of issues, including technology, policy-making, regional security, deterrence, historiography, crisis-management and conflict. He received the 2014 Anderson Medal for The Challenge: Britain against America in the Naval War of 1812.
Professor Lambert has lectured on aspects of my work around the world, from Australia and Canada to Finland, Denmark and Russia.
Research Interests
Areas of interest include:
- Naval history
- Strategic history
- History of technology
- Historiography
Recovering Robinson Crusoe
In December 2010 Professor Lambert joined a German documentary/academic expedition to Robinson Crusoe Island, one of the Juan Fernandez Islands, 400 miles west of the coast of Chile. The expedition focused on the relationship between the fictional character of Crusoe, one of the best known of all literary inventions, the story of Scots sailor Alexander Selkirk, who was marooned on the island for four years in the early eighteenth century, and the development of British global strategy that culminated in the arrival of Commodore George Anson’s naval expedition in 1741. Read the full story here: Recovering Robinson Crusoe
Publications
Most recent publications include:
The British Way of War: Julian Corbett and the Battle for a National Strategy, Yale 2021. You can also listen to the War Studies Podcast episode on this book.
Seapower States, Yale 2018, has won the 2018 Gilder Lehrman Book Prize in Military History
For a full list of publications visit the Research Portal or download this document
Research
Laughton Naval History and Maritime Strategy Unit
A Home for British naval and maritime thinking, research into global naval history and the study of seapower and maritime strateg. The Laughton Unit provides the ideal basis for original and challenging research on all aspects of naval history, seapower, sea power studies and maritime strategy, preparing the next generation of thinkers from all around the world, ready and able, for a spectrum of career possibilities and destinations.
Centre for Grand Strategy
The Centre for Grand Strategy seeks to bring a greater degree of historical and strategic expertise to statecraft, diplomacy and foreign policy.
Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War
The centre promotes the scholarly history of war in all it's dimensions, trains research students and hosts research projects and conferences
Corbett 100
Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).
Project status: Ongoing
Corbett Seapower Centre
The Corbett Centre develops and promotes the understanding and analysis of maritime policy and strategy
News
Alumni celebrate 30 years of War Studies BA programme
The Department of War Studies at King’s College London hosted an alumni reunion at King’s Strand Campus, celebrating 30 years of the War Studies BA programme.
New project will use maritime approach to advance space strategy
A new project supported by the Laughton Unit in the School of Security Studies aims to use maritime strategy to advance understanding of the role of space in...
U.S Naval War College hosts conference with King's on defence and security challenges
Academics from the School of Security Studies in partnership with the U.S Naval War College and Australian Naval Institute, discussed historical questions,...
Security Studies hosts international conference on maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett
The Corbett 100 Conference explored the life and times of the important historian and strategist
King's College London led research collaboration enhances 'AUKUS' partnership between UK, USA and Australia
A collaborative project by the Laughton Naval Unit with research partners in the USA and Australia supports the close ties identified in the new ‘AUKUS’...
Andrew Lambert Wins the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History
Laughton Professor of Naval History in the War Studies Department is the winner of the Sixth Annual Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History.
Events
‘Corbett Sea Power Centre’ Launch Event Lecture: No More Napoleons – How Britain Managed Europe from Waterloo to World War One
Join us for the launch of the Corbett Sea Power Centre, featuring Prof Andrew Lambert’s 2025 Peter N. Davies Memorial Lecture and the release of his new book,...
King’s Navy: Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King and the Rise of American Sea Power, 1897-1947
Join Dr. David Kohnen for the launch of King’s Navy, an authoritative look at Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King and the rise of American sea power from 1897 to 1947.
Please note: this event has passed.
Sir Julian Corbett as a Historian, Educator, and Strategic Thinker
A roundtable discussion with the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies: Strategic Thinkers Series
Please note: this event has passed.
The 'British Way of War': Book launch with Professor Andrew Lambert
A book launch and lecture with esteemed War Studies Professor Andrew Lambert
Please note: this event has passed.
Historical Perspectives on Crisis and Response: Revising Strategy in Challenging Contexts
Examining crisis response and strategic revision in a historical context
Please note: this event has passed.
Book launch: GATT and Global Order in the Postwar Era
Join our event with Francine McKenzie as she discusses her new book on the vital role trade has played in 20th century global affairs
Please note: this event has passed.
Practice Makes Imperfect: Mission Specific Rehearsals in the British Army, 1914–1918
The seminar discusses rehearsal attacks in British Army training during the first world war.
Please note: this event has passed.
Research
Laughton Naval History and Maritime Strategy Unit
A Home for British naval and maritime thinking, research into global naval history and the study of seapower and maritime strateg. The Laughton Unit provides the ideal basis for original and challenging research on all aspects of naval history, seapower, sea power studies and maritime strategy, preparing the next generation of thinkers from all around the world, ready and able, for a spectrum of career possibilities and destinations.
Centre for Grand Strategy
The Centre for Grand Strategy seeks to bring a greater degree of historical and strategic expertise to statecraft, diplomacy and foreign policy.
Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War
The centre promotes the scholarly history of war in all it's dimensions, trains research students and hosts research projects and conferences
Corbett 100
Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).
Project status: Ongoing
Corbett Seapower Centre
The Corbett Centre develops and promotes the understanding and analysis of maritime policy and strategy
News
Alumni celebrate 30 years of War Studies BA programme
The Department of War Studies at King’s College London hosted an alumni reunion at King’s Strand Campus, celebrating 30 years of the War Studies BA programme.
New project will use maritime approach to advance space strategy
A new project supported by the Laughton Unit in the School of Security Studies aims to use maritime strategy to advance understanding of the role of space in...
U.S Naval War College hosts conference with King's on defence and security challenges
Academics from the School of Security Studies in partnership with the U.S Naval War College and Australian Naval Institute, discussed historical questions,...
Security Studies hosts international conference on maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett
The Corbett 100 Conference explored the life and times of the important historian and strategist
King's College London led research collaboration enhances 'AUKUS' partnership between UK, USA and Australia
A collaborative project by the Laughton Naval Unit with research partners in the USA and Australia supports the close ties identified in the new ‘AUKUS’...
Andrew Lambert Wins the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History
Laughton Professor of Naval History in the War Studies Department is the winner of the Sixth Annual Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History.
Events
‘Corbett Sea Power Centre’ Launch Event Lecture: No More Napoleons – How Britain Managed Europe from Waterloo to World War One
Join us for the launch of the Corbett Sea Power Centre, featuring Prof Andrew Lambert’s 2025 Peter N. Davies Memorial Lecture and the release of his new book,...
King’s Navy: Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King and the Rise of American Sea Power, 1897-1947
Join Dr. David Kohnen for the launch of King’s Navy, an authoritative look at Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King and the rise of American sea power from 1897 to 1947.
Please note: this event has passed.
Sir Julian Corbett as a Historian, Educator, and Strategic Thinker
A roundtable discussion with the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies: Strategic Thinkers Series
Please note: this event has passed.
The 'British Way of War': Book launch with Professor Andrew Lambert
A book launch and lecture with esteemed War Studies Professor Andrew Lambert
Please note: this event has passed.
Historical Perspectives on Crisis and Response: Revising Strategy in Challenging Contexts
Examining crisis response and strategic revision in a historical context
Please note: this event has passed.
Book launch: GATT and Global Order in the Postwar Era
Join our event with Francine McKenzie as she discusses her new book on the vital role trade has played in 20th century global affairs
Please note: this event has passed.
Practice Makes Imperfect: Mission Specific Rehearsals in the British Army, 1914–1918
The seminar discusses rehearsal attacks in British Army training during the first world war.
Please note: this event has passed.