fbpx
Wikipedia

John Knox Laughton

January 01, 1970

Sir John Knox Laughton (23 April 1830 – 14 September 1915) was a British naval historian[1] and arguably the first to delineate the importance of the subject of Naval history as an independent field of study. Beginning his working life as a mathematically trained civilian instructor for the Royal Navy, he later became professor of modern history at King's College London and a co-founder of the Navy Records Society. A prolific writer of lives, he penned the biographies of more than 900 naval personalities for the Dictionary of National Biography.[2][3]

Family edit

Laughton was born in Liverpool on 23 April 1830, the second son and youngest child of a former Master Mariner, James Laughton of Liverpool (1777–1859).

In 1866, Laughton married his first wife, Isabella, daughter of John Carr of Dunfermline. They had two sons, Leonard and Arthur, and three daughters – Elsbeth, Mary and Dorothy. In 1886, Laughton married his second wife, María Josefa, daughter of Eugenio di Alberti, of Cádiz, Spain; they had three sons and two daughters, one of whom was Dame Vera Laughton Mathews.[citation needed]

Sir John Knox Laughton died at his home at Wimbledon on 14 September 1915, aged 85.[citation needed]

Academic career edit

Laughton was educated at the Royal Institution School, Liverpool, and then at Caius College, Cambridge, graduating BA (34th wrangler) in 1852.[4] He served with the Royal Navy as a civilian shipboard instructor teaching mathematics, science and navigation, and saw combat in the Baltic and Far East campaigns.[5] In 1866 he finished his sea days by going ashore to teach at the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth. When the college moved to the new Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1873, Laughton moved with it to become head of the department of meteorology and marine surveying.

In the 1870s Laughton turned more and more to teaching and lecturing on history, delivering a now famous lecture to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in 1874 on the importance of actually analysing historical events, rather than merely reporting events chronologically. This was a new idea at the time and would not have been seen then as stating the obvious, as perhaps it would today.[6] With this new approach, Laughton ‘acted as a catalyst for [the] entire intellectual development' of naval history as an independent discipline.[7]

During his time as a lecturer in naval history, Laughton was undoubtedly an influence on the more famous naval historian-strategists of his age – Alfred Thayer Mahan, Julian Corbett and Herbert Richmond. Mahan, who has been described as "one of Laughton's disciples", wrote of him that "He probably knows more naval history than any English speaking man living".[8] In 1885 he left the Royal Navy to accept the position of professor of modern history at King's College, London. He succeeded in convincing the Admiralty to allow limited public access to their archives. Together with Admiral Cyprian Bridge, Laughton co-founded the Navy Records Society in 1893. He was the Society's first Secretary, and was knighted for his work in 1907.[8][9]

Laughton died at the age of 85 on 14 September 1915 and was buried at sea in the Thames Estuary from the decks of HMS Conqueror.

Legacy and influence edit

Laughton's contributions to naval history were largely forgotten until the pioneering work by Canadian naval historian Donald Mackenzie Schurman The Education of a Navy: The Development of British Naval Strategic Thought, 1867–1914 (1965) resurrected his memory. Professor Andrew Lambert has since added to this with a work, The Foundations of Naval History: John Knox Laughton, the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession.

Unlike Mahan and Corbett, Laughton never wrote a major work, and the body of work that he did leave behind went out of print and until online editions became available was very difficult to come by. The measure of his significance comes by looking at the people he influenced and the institutions which he left behind after his death. Through 'long-term influence and personal contact' with other thinkers in the field and British admirals, he managed to sow the seeds in influential people’s minds that naval history was a subject worth studying, something which had relevance and bearing on modern naval affairs.[10] The Navy Records Society remains a key part of the discipline of naval history.

In recognition of his importance, King's College Department of War Studies has named its naval history chair as the Laughton Professor, and naval historians in the department belong to the Laughton Unit .[11]

Honours edit

Works edit

  • Physical Geography in Its Relation to the Prevailing Winds and Currents (London: Potter, 1873) read online
  • Recollections of James Anthony Gardner [1770–1846], Commander R. N. (1775–1814), ed. by Laughton and Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton (London: Navy Records Society, 1886) read online
  • Studies in Naval History: Biographies (London: Longmans, Green and Company, 1887) read online
  • State Papers Relating to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Anno 1588 (London: Navy Records Society, 1894) read online
  • Nelson (London: Macmillan, 1895) read online
  • Nelson and His Companions in Arms (London: G. Allen, 1896) read online
  • Journal of Rear-Admiral Bartholomew James, 1752–1828 (London: Navy Records Society, 1896) read online
  • From Howard to Nelson: Twelve Sailors (London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1899) read online
  • The Naval Miscellany (5 vols.) (ed., with William Gordon Perrin and Lloyd Christopher) (Navy Records Society, 1902 read online
  • Sea Fights and Adventures, Described (London: G. Allen, 1907) read online
  • Letters and Papers of Charles, Lord Barham, Admiral of the Red Squadron, 1758–1813 (3 vols.) (Navy Records Society, 1907–11) read online
  • The Barker Collection: Manuscripts of and Relating to Admiral Lord Nelson, briefly noted by Sir John Knox Laughton (London: Chiswick Press, 1913) read online

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Laughton, John Knox". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1023.
  2. ^ G. A. R. Callender; Rev. Andrew Lambert (2004). "Laughton, Sir John Knox (1830–1915)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34420. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ The Dictionary of National Biography 1912–1921, pp. 324-325, Oxford.
  4. ^ "Laughton, John Knox (LTN848JK)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ^ Adamiak, Stanley J. 'The Foundations of Naval History: John Knox Laughton, the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession', Review of book by Professor Andrew Lambert, Journal of Military History Vol. 64, No. 4 (October 2000) pp. 1169–1170
  6. ^ John Hattendorf, The Caird Lecture, 2000: The Anglo-French Naval Wars (1689–1815) in twentieth century naval thought Journal for Maritime Research. http://www.jmr.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conJmrArticle.30/viewPage/2 – URL last accessed 3 April 2007
  7. ^ Andrew Lambert (1998) The Foundations of Naval History: John Knox Laughton, the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession (London: Chatham House), p. 11
  8. ^ a b R.J.B. Knight (2000) The Foundations of Naval History: John Knox Laughton, the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession, Review of book by Professor Andrew Lambert in the Institute for Historical Research's Reviews in History series. (London: Institute for Historical Research) http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/paper/knight.html 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine – URL last accessed 3 April 2007
  9. ^ "No. 28044". The London Gazette. 26 July 1907. p. 5118.
  10. ^ Lambert (1998), p. 193
  11. ^ "Laughton Naval Unit".

External links edit

  •   Works by or about John Knox Laughton at Wikisource
  •   Media related to John Knox Laughton at Wikimedia Commons
  • KCL Laughton Naval History Research Unit
  • by R. J. B. Knight
  • Royal United Services Institute
  • Works by John Knox Laughton at Project Gutenberg
  • Works by or about John Knox Laughton at Internet Archive

January 01, 1970
john, knox, laughton, april, 1830, september, 1915, british, naval, historian, arguably, first, delineate, importance, subject, naval, history, independent, field, study, beginning, working, life, mathematically, trained, civilian, instructor, royal, navy, lat. Sir John Knox Laughton 23 April 1830 14 September 1915 was a British naval historian 1 and arguably the first to delineate the importance of the subject of Naval history as an independent field of study Beginning his working life as a mathematically trained civilian instructor for the Royal Navy he later became professor of modern history at King s College London and a co founder of the Navy Records Society A prolific writer of lives he penned the biographies of more than 900 naval personalities for the Dictionary of National Biography 2 3 Contents 1 Family 2 Academic career 3 Legacy and influence 4 Honours 5 Works 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksFamily editLaughton was born in Liverpool on 23 April 1830 the second son and youngest child of a former Master Mariner James Laughton of Liverpool 1777 1859 In 1866 Laughton married his first wife Isabella daughter of John Carr of Dunfermline They had two sons Leonard and Arthur and three daughters Elsbeth Mary and Dorothy In 1886 Laughton married his second wife Maria Josefa daughter of Eugenio di Alberti of Cadiz Spain they had three sons and two daughters one of whom was Dame Vera Laughton Mathews citation needed Sir John Knox Laughton died at his home at Wimbledon on 14 September 1915 aged 85 citation needed Academic career editLaughton was educated at the Royal Institution School Liverpool and then at Caius College Cambridge graduating BA 34th wrangler in 1852 4 He served with the Royal Navy as a civilian shipboard instructor teaching mathematics science and navigation and saw combat in the Baltic and Far East campaigns 5 In 1866 he finished his sea days by going ashore to teach at the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth When the college moved to the new Royal Naval College Greenwich in 1873 Laughton moved with it to become head of the department of meteorology and marine surveying In the 1870s Laughton turned more and more to teaching and lecturing on history delivering a now famous lecture to the Royal United Services Institute RUSI in 1874 on the importance of actually analysing historical events rather than merely reporting events chronologically This was a new idea at the time and would not have been seen then as stating the obvious as perhaps it would today 6 With this new approach Laughton acted as a catalyst for the entire intellectual development of naval history as an independent discipline 7 During his time as a lecturer in naval history Laughton was undoubtedly an influence on the more famous naval historian strategists of his age Alfred Thayer Mahan Julian Corbett and Herbert Richmond Mahan who has been described as one of Laughton s disciples wrote of him that He probably knows more naval history than any English speaking man living 8 In 1885 he left the Royal Navy to accept the position of professor of modern history at King s College London He succeeded in convincing the Admiralty to allow limited public access to their archives Together with Admiral Cyprian Bridge Laughton co founded the Navy Records Society in 1893 He was the Society s first Secretary and was knighted for his work in 1907 8 9 Laughton died at the age of 85 on 14 September 1915 and was buried at sea in the Thames Estuary from the decks of HMS Conqueror Legacy and influence editLaughton s contributions to naval history were largely forgotten until the pioneering work by Canadian naval historian Donald Mackenzie Schurman The Education of a Navy The Development of British Naval Strategic Thought 1867 1914 1965 resurrected his memory Professor Andrew Lambert has since added to this with a work The Foundations of Naval History John Knox Laughton the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession Unlike Mahan and Corbett Laughton never wrote a major work and the body of work that he did leave behind went out of print and until online editions became available was very difficult to come by The measure of his significance comes by looking at the people he influenced and the institutions which he left behind after his death Through long term influence and personal contact with other thinkers in the field and British admirals he managed to sow the seeds in influential people s minds that naval history was a subject worth studying something which had relevance and bearing on modern naval affairs 10 The Navy Records Society remains a key part of the discipline of naval history In recognition of his importance King s College Department of War Studies has named its naval history chair as the Laughton Professor and naval historians in the department belong to the Laughton Unit 11 Honours editKnight Bachelor in 1907 Chesney Gold Medal in 1910 Professorship granted in 1885 by King s College LondonWorks editPhysical Geography in Its Relation to the Prevailing Winds and Currents London Potter 1873 read online Recollections of James Anthony Gardner 1770 1846 Commander R N 1775 1814 ed by Laughton and Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton London Navy Records Society 1886 read online Studies in Naval History Biographies London Longmans Green and Company 1887 read online State Papers Relating to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada Anno 1588 London Navy Records Society 1894 read online Nelson London Macmillan 1895 read online Nelson and His Companions in Arms London G Allen 1896 read online Journal of Rear Admiral Bartholomew James 1752 1828 London Navy Records Society 1896 read online From Howard to Nelson Twelve Sailors London Lawrence and Bullen 1899 read online The Naval Miscellany 5 vols ed with William Gordon Perrin and Lloyd Christopher Navy Records Society 1902 read online Sea Fights and Adventures Described London G Allen 1907 read online Letters and Papers of Charles Lord Barham Admiral of the Red Squadron 1758 1813 3 vols Navy Records Society 1907 11 read online The Barker Collection Manuscripts of and Relating to Admiral Lord Nelson briefly noted by Sir John Knox Laughton London Chiswick Press 1913 read onlineSee also editRear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan USN Sir Julian Corbett Rear Admiral Stephen Luce USN Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond RN The Laughton Unit for Naval History Laughton UnitReferences edit Laughton John Knox Who s Who Vol 59 1907 p 1023 G A R Callender Rev Andrew Lambert 2004 Laughton Sir John Knox 1830 1915 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 34420 Subscription or UK public library membership required The Dictionary of National Biography 1912 1921 pp 324 325 Oxford Laughton John Knox LTN848JK A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Adamiak Stanley J The Foundations of Naval History John Knox Laughton the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession Review of book by Professor Andrew Lambert Journal of Military History Vol 64 No 4 October 2000 pp 1169 1170 John Hattendorf The Caird Lecture 2000 The Anglo French Naval Wars 1689 1815 in twentieth century naval thought Journal for Maritime Research http www jmr nmm ac uk server show conJmrArticle 30 viewPage 2 URL last accessed 3 April 2007 Andrew Lambert 1998 The Foundations of Naval History John Knox Laughton the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession London Chatham House p 11 a b R J B Knight 2000 The Foundations of Naval History John Knox Laughton the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession Review of book by Professor Andrew Lambert in the Institute for Historical Research s Reviews in History series London Institute for Historical Research http www history ac uk reviews paper knight html Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine URL last accessed 3 April 2007 No 28044 The London Gazette 26 July 1907 p 5118 Lambert 1998 p 193 Laughton Naval Unit External links edit nbsp Works by or about John Knox Laughton at Wikisource nbsp Media related to John Knox Laughton at Wikimedia Commons KCL Laughton Naval History Research Unit Institute of Historical Research review of Lambert s 1998 book by R J B Knight Navy Records Society Royal United Services Institute Works by John Knox Laughton at Project Gutenberg Works by or about John Knox Laughton at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Knox Laughton amp oldid 1220838230, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.