Captain Michael Barritt will pick up the theme of his 2017 E.G.R. Taylor Lecture, showing the evidence that belies the received wisdom that the Royal Navy of the period showed neither interest in nor aptitude for hydrography, and that there was clear encouragement from leaders such as Nelson.
Case studies will illustrate challenges and achievements with the often limited means at the disposal of the practitioners, show how men with higher skills were identified, and consider the background of the different educational regimes in Scotland and England.
The lecture will tap into the rich visual material preserved in archives, especially that of the UK Hydrographic Office.