Why Wellington Won - and Napoleon Lost - the Battle of Waterloo


Historical Association talk by Professor Michael Clarke

Professor Michael Clarke
Professor Michael Clarke

August 30, 2023

The next talk to be hosted by the Ealing Branch of the Historical Association will be given by Professor Michael Clarke, Fellow of King’s College London, on: ‘Why Wellington won - and Napoleon lost - the Battle of Waterloo’ .

It is taking place on Tuesday 12 September 2023, 7.30 pm, at Ealing Green Church.

Professor Michael Clarke, who is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, specialises in defence studies and holds a number of professorial positions. He was Director of the Royal United Services Institute from 2007 to 2015. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, he served as Sky News' security and defence analyst.

His most recent book (with Helen Ramscar) is Britain’s Persuaders: Soft Power in a Hard World (I.B. Tauris: 2021)

Battles can always go in very unpredictable directions and Waterloo almost did, on more than one occasion. Though Waterloo was not as strategically important as is often assumed, it was undoubtedly the most dramatic and ferocious battle the Duke of Wellington ever fought. Many believe was not his best performance as a commander and yet, in the end, he prevailed. There were some very specific reasons for this, not least having a big share of luck. The lecture will discuss them.

Non-members can attend the talk for a suggested donation of £5 with no charge for students.

You can become a member of either the national organisation (which includes local membership) for £65 per year (£43 concessions) or a local member for just £15 a year. You will then receive regular emails or newsletters about the association’s activities.

For more details of the association’s programme of talks for the coming season visit its web site.

 

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