The EI Podcast No more Napoleons: British grand strategy in the 19th century
Jul 24, 2025
Join Andrew Lambert, Lawton Professor of Naval History at King's College London and a distinguished naval historian, as he delves into Britain's strategic maneuvering from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to World War I. Lambert discusses how Britain leveraged naval power and diplomacy to maintain stability in Europe. He highlights key figures like Pitt and Wellington, examines the rise of Germany as a rising power, and addresses Britain's strategic missteps that ultimately contributed to its unpreparedness for World War I.
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Maritime Strategy Over Continental Conquest
- Britain fought limited wars on Europe's margins while building a global maritime empire.
- Naval power and commerce let Britain influence Europe without large continental armies.
Existential Threat From Revolutionary France
- Republican France posed an existential ideological and military threat to Britain.
- That threat forced Britain to shift from peripheral meddling to comprehensive strategy and coalition-building.
Nelson, Wellington And The Scheldt Moment
- Nelson and Wellington once discussed plans that shaped British strategy against invasion via the Scheldt.
- Nelson planned Scheldt operations and Castlereagh supported counterattacks to seize the initiative.
