The Society for Nautical Research was founded in 1910 by Charles Napier Robinson to promote the academic field of maritime history in the United Kingdom.
The aims of the society were to:
support and encourage research in maritime history and underwater archaeology.publish the pre-eminent academic journal for maritime history, The Mariner's Mirror.sponsor events and conferencespurchase art and artifacts for the National Maritime Museum, which the Society helped to found.fund special projects, such as the preservation of HMS Victory, one of the original aims of the society at its foundation.The society celebrated its centenary in 2010
Patron and President
Patron: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KTPresident: HRH The Duke of York, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC(P)Vice-Presidents:Alan Aberg, BA, FSA, FRGSCdr John Bingeman, CEng, MIMechE, RNJonathan Coad, MA, FSAProfessor Eric Grove, MA, PhD, FRHistSProfessor Richard Harding, BA, PhD, FRHistSProfessor Derek G Law, MA, FIInfos, FLA, FKCLt Cdr Lawrie Phillips, RD, TD, RNRDr Susan Rose, MA, PhD, FRHistSDr Pieter van der Merwe, MBE, DLChairman: Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, GBE, KCB, BA, FREngHon. Editor, Mariner's Mirror: Dr Martin BellamyHon. Secretary: Dr A. Byrne McLeod, PhDHon. Treasurer: Dr Peter Nash, PhDIn 2011, the Chairman of the Society, Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton suggested in his "The Way Forward" report that the Society create a system of fellowships, similar to that of other Learned societies, as a means of recognition, using the Post-nominal letters "FSNR". Eaton initially asked a small group to carry forward the idea and the result was a report to which the Society's Council agreed and the idea was put forward to the Annual General Meeting. It was agreed that election as a Fellow of the Society would be in recognition of the outstanding role that an individual had played in furthering the objectives of the Society as set forth in its constitution. This might be for long service as an officer or member of the Council, as an officer of the Society's committees, as an outstanding contributor to its publications, or as a member whose achievements in the field of maritime studies merit recognition.
The first class of Fellows of the Society was created in 2015 and as at January 2017 consisted of the following individuals:
Alan Aberg, BA, FSA, FRGSRichard Bateman, MADr Martin Bellamy, BSc, PhDJohn Bethell, MSc(Geog), MSc(InfoSc), FRGSCdr John Bingeman, CEng, MIMechE, RNJonathan Coad, MA, FSADr John David Davies, MA, PhD, FRHistSAdmiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, GBE, KCBRobert GardinerLt Cdr Jock Gardner, MPhil, FRHistSProfessor Eric Grove, MA, PhD, FRHistSProfessor Richard Harding, BA, PhD, FRHistSJohn H Harland, MDProfessor John Brewster Hattendorf, MA, DPhil, DLit, LHD, FRHistSRear Admiral John Richard HillCaptain Peter Hore, FRHistS, RNBrian Lavery, MAProfessor Derek G Law, MA, FIInfos, FLA, FKCMargarette Lincoln, BA, PhDDr Campbell McMurray, OBE, BA, MSc, PhDDr Pieter van der Merwe, MBE, DLRear Admiral Roger Morriss, CBCountess Mountbatten, CBE, MSC, CDProfessor Hugh Murphy, MA, PhDPeter V Nash, MA, PhD, FRSAProfessor Derek J Oddy, BSc(Econ),PhDProfessor Sarah R. Palmer, BA, MA, PhD, FRHistSLt Cdr Lawrie Phillips, RD, TD, RNRRear Admiral David Pulvertaft, CBProfessor N.A.M. Rodger, MA, Dphil, FBA, FRHistS, FSADr Susan Rose, MA, PhD, FRHistSLt Cdr F.J.M. Scott, MA, FNI, RNAnn Shirley, Hon, DLittRay Sutcliffe, FSARif Winfield, BSc(Econ)Peter WinterbottomJenny Wraight, BLib, MCILIP, FRSAFormer Fellow of the Society (now deceased):
Alan P McGowan, MA, PhDThe Society invited a small group of leading maritime historians in other countries, who were also members of the Society, to act as liaison in their own countries and to correspond with news of activities and events of interest to the membership to be published in the Society's newsletter. The current Overseas Corresponding Members are:
Australia: Rear Admiral James Goldrick, Royal Australian NavyBelgium:Canada: William Glover, PhDDenmark: Professor Poul HolmFinland: Tapio Bergholm, PhDFrance: Rear Admiral Jean-Yves Nerzic, French NavyIreland: Seán T. Rickard, MAThe Netherlands: Ron Brand, MANorway: Professor Stig TenoldSpain: Laureano Carbonell Relat, PhDThe United States: Professor John B. Hattendorf, DPhil, DLittErnest Dade, maritime artist and model makerMariner's Mirror (1911-date), quarterly ISSN 0025-3359Newsletter: TopmastsSince 2010, the Society has been a co-sponsor of the annual Alan Villiers Memorial Lecture at Oxford.
