Brian Lavery
Encyclopedia
Brian Lavery MA, is a British naval historian, author, and Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum
, Greenwich
.
. Upon graduating, Lavery worked first as a teacher, then in the printing industry, before gradually fulfilling his interest in maritime heritage as an author, consultant and curator, building a solid reputation as a highly respected authority in the field. He worked at Chatham Historic Dockyard
on the Wooden Walls exhibition. During 14 years in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich he developed the modern collecting policy, and worked on numerous exhibitions such as 'Seapower', 'All Hands', and several of the galleries in the Neptune Court development. He has lectured regularly on cruise ships, including many trips on the square rigger Sea Cloud, and he undertakes maritime tours in the United Kingdom and Europe. Traditional Boats & Tall Ships refers to him as ‘one of the world's leading naval historians.’ He has since published over 30 books, covering marine architecture, ship construction (including several in Conway's Anatomy of the Ship
series), and naval warfare from its infancy to present day. He is a leading expert in the career of Nelson
and the broader Royal Navy
. Patrick O’Brian found Nelson's Navy (1989) to be ‘the most nearly regal that I have come across in many years of reading on the subject.’ The Times labelled the same book ‘A masterpiece on life in the Senior Service under England's favourite seafaring son.’
In addition to editing works such Deane's Doctrine of Naval Architecture 1670, Lavery often produces articles, featuring regularly in maritime magazines and journals.
Lavery was an historical consultant on Peter Weir
's 2003 blockbuster ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
’, starring Russell Crowe
and Paul Bettany
. His naval expertise was also utilised ‘on the replica constructions of Captain Cook's Endeavour and the emigrant ship Susan Constant’, the latter being the subject of his 1988 book.
In 2007, Lavery released Churchill Goes to War, through Conway Publishing, according to the Mail on Sunday, ‘a well-researched and at times deeply inspiring book’. In November of the same year, Lady Mountbatten presented Lavery with the ‘Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award’ at a ceremony aboard the MV Silver Sturgeon. According to the Maritime Foundation's official website, the award ‘was made to Mr Lavery as an author, broadcaster and adviser on major feature films, which have contributed to our understanding of the social structure of Britain's maritime power and all maritime aspects of British national life.’ The following year, he was awarded the highly prestigious Society for Nautical Research's Anderson Medal.
In 2009, Lavery wrote The Sunday Times bestselling book accompanying the acclaimed BBC
series ‘Empire of the Seas’, presented by Dan Snow
, which, as The Sunday Express explains, ‘looks at the growth off Britain thanks to the Royal Navy, from Drakes defeat of the Armada to the First World War.’
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
, Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
.
Biography
He was born and raised in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Upon graduating, Lavery worked first as a teacher, then in the printing industry, before gradually fulfilling his interest in maritime heritage as an author, consultant and curator, building a solid reputation as a highly respected authority in the field. He worked at Chatham Historic Dockyard
Chatham Historic Dockyard
Chatham Historic Dockyard is a maritime museum on part of the site of the former royal/naval dockyard at Chatham in Kent, England.Chatham Dockyard covered 400 acres and was one of the Royal Navy's main facilities for several hundred years until it was closed in 1984. After closure the dockyard was...
on the Wooden Walls exhibition. During 14 years in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich he developed the modern collecting policy, and worked on numerous exhibitions such as 'Seapower', 'All Hands', and several of the galleries in the Neptune Court development. He has lectured regularly on cruise ships, including many trips on the square rigger Sea Cloud, and he undertakes maritime tours in the United Kingdom and Europe. Traditional Boats & Tall Ships refers to him as ‘one of the world's leading naval historians.’ He has since published over 30 books, covering marine architecture, ship construction (including several in Conway's Anatomy of the Ship
Anatomy of the Ship series
The Anatomy of the Ship series of books are comprehensive treatments of the design and construction of individual ships. They have been published by Conway Maritime Press since the 1980s, and republished in the US by the Naval Institute Press.- About the series :Each volume begins with a general...
series), and naval warfare from its infancy to present day. He is a leading expert in the career of Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
and the broader Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Patrick O’Brian found Nelson's Navy (1989) to be ‘the most nearly regal that I have come across in many years of reading on the subject.’ The Times labelled the same book ‘A masterpiece on life in the Senior Service under England's favourite seafaring son.’
In addition to editing works such Deane's Doctrine of Naval Architecture 1670, Lavery often produces articles, featuring regularly in maritime magazines and journals.
Lavery was an historical consultant on Peter Weir
Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
's 2003 blockbuster ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir, starring Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey, with Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin and released by 20th Century Fox, Miramax Films and Universal Studios...
’, starring Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
and Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany is an English actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of films, including A Knight's Tale, A Beautiful Mind, and The Da Vinci Code...
. His naval expertise was also utilised ‘on the replica constructions of Captain Cook's Endeavour and the emigrant ship Susan Constant’, the latter being the subject of his 1988 book.
In 2007, Lavery released Churchill Goes to War, through Conway Publishing, according to the Mail on Sunday, ‘a well-researched and at times deeply inspiring book’. In November of the same year, Lady Mountbatten presented Lavery with the ‘Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award’ at a ceremony aboard the MV Silver Sturgeon. According to the Maritime Foundation's official website, the award ‘was made to Mr Lavery as an author, broadcaster and adviser on major feature films, which have contributed to our understanding of the social structure of Britain's maritime power and all maritime aspects of British national life.’ The following year, he was awarded the highly prestigious Society for Nautical Research's Anderson Medal.
In 2009, Lavery wrote The Sunday Times bestselling book accompanying the acclaimed BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series ‘Empire of the Seas’, presented by Dan Snow
Dan Snow
Daniel Robert Snow is an English television presenter. He has presented and appeared in many popular history-related programmes for the BBC and is the "History Hunter" for The One Show.-Early life and background:...
, which, as The Sunday Express explains, ‘looks at the growth off Britain thanks to the Royal Navy, from Drakes defeat of the Armada to the First World War.’
Awards
- Society for Nautical Research's Anderson Medal (2008)
- Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award (2007)