Lawson Lies Still in the Thames
The Extraordinary Life of Vice Admiral Sir John Lawson
John Lawson (1615-1665) is a forgotten hero of the English Civil War: He was an ordinary merchant seaman who navigated his way to become a Vice-Admiral; surviving political intrigue, exile, and imprisonment. Despite his republican beliefs he helped ensure the restoration of the monarchy, for which he was knighted. Lawson’s subsequent actions, including establishing a defensive harbour in Tangier, locates his tale within the wider context of England’s transformation into a global political and economic power.
This is the second of three talks in the Summer Potpourri Talks Series. The other talks take place on 24th July and 25th September. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price. Â
To book
Pre-booking is required, because the event link will be sent in advance.               Â
To join this talk, you will need a computer device with speakers. Ideally, also a webcam and microphone. You also need to be able to access the internet from it. First-time users of Zoom, will be asked to download a small piece of software, which will be sent in advance.   Â
Image: Part of the cover of Gill Blanchard’s biography of John Lawson.                                         Â
To book – scroll down.
Date
- Thu 28 Aug 2025
Time
- 14:00 - 15:15
Tickets
- £5.00
Organiser
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The Centre - Berkshire FHS
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Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speaker
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Gill BlanchardGill Blanchard is a professional house historian, genealogist, writer, and tutor. She has an academic background in history, sociology and politics and has been a full time historical researcher since 1992. She set up her own research business called Past Search in 1997, qualified as an adult education tutor the following year, and is a full member of AGRA.
Gill is the author of several research guides, biographies and local histories, including Tracing Your House History, Tracing Your Ancestors: Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Writing Your Family History (Pen and Sword Books). She is a regular contributor to national family history magazines and other journals and has conducted much background research for authors, journalists and academic researchers, including the BBC Who Do You Think You Are? television series.