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Lambert
Lambert

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 StatesYale 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

laughtonmain
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.

EIS_EU_Flags_MAIN
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.

SMHC newlogo 780x440
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

Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).

Project status: Ongoing

News

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...

James Smith Space Project

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,...

Corbett 100

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

Speakers at the Corbett 100 conference

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’...

Laughton ships sea

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.

Professor Lambert (right) in conversation with Committee Chairman Andrew Roberts at the Prize Ceremony on October 28th 2019. (Image by courtesy of photographer Howard Heyman and the New York Historical Society).

Events

10DecCorbettEvent

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.

08NovAndrew Lambert

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.

07JunMilitary and Political

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.

20OctArmy training

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.

21OctFrancineMcKenzie

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.

Research

laughtonmain
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.

EIS_EU_Flags_MAIN
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.

SMHC newlogo 780x440
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

Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).

Project status: Ongoing

News

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...

James Smith Space Project

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,...

Corbett 100

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

Speakers at the Corbett 100 conference

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’...

Laughton ships sea

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.

Professor Lambert (right) in conversation with Committee Chairman Andrew Roberts at the Prize Ceremony on October 28th 2019. (Image by courtesy of photographer Howard Heyman and the New York Historical Society).

Events

10DecCorbettEvent

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.

08NovAndrew Lambert

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.

07JunMilitary and Political

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.

20OctArmy training

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.

21OctFrancineMcKenzie

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.