Evan Wilson, D.Phil.

Associate Professor John B. Hattendorf Center for Maritime Historical Research
Evan Wilson Profile Image

Biography

Evan Wilson researches the naval history of Britain and other countries from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. A recipient of the Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History, he is the author or editor of six books, most recently The Horrible Peace: British Veterans and the End of the Napoleonic Wars (UMass, 2023). His next book, which he edited with Paul Kennedy, is Planning for War at Sea: 400 Years of Great Power Competition (Naval Institute, 2025). Before coming to Newport, he was the Caird Senior Research Fellow at the National Maritime Museum (UK) and the Associate Director of International Security Studies at Yale University. He holds degrees from Yale, Cambridge and Oxford.

Areas of Expertise

  • Europe
  • Maritime History
  • Maritime Strategy
  • Piracy
  • Revolutionary War
  • War of 1812
  • WWII

Professional Highlights

2022

U.S. Naval War College

Appointed Associate Professor, John B. Hattendorf Center for Maritime Historical Research.
2018

U.S. Naval War College

Appointed Assistant Professor, John B. Hattendorf Center for Maritime Historical Research.
2016

Yale University

Appointed Associate Director, International Security Studies, and Lecturer, History Department.
2015

National Maritime Museum (UK)

Appointed Caird Senior Research Fellow.
2015

University of Oxford

Awarded D.Phil in History.

Education

D.Phil., University of Oxford, 2015, History

M.Phil., University of Cambridge, 2008, Modern European History

B.A., Yale University, 2007, History

C.V. or Resume

Research Contributions and Publications

Awards and Decorations

Sir Julian Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History
2018

Other Honors

Clarendon Scholarship
University of Oxford (2011-2014)

Humanities Scholarship, University College
Oxford (2011-2014)

Graduated with distinction, M.Phil.
University of Cambridge (2008)

Graduated magna cum laude with distinction in History, B.A.
Yale University (2007)

External Memberships and Associations

Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

North American Society for Oceanic History
Vice President

University of Massachusetts Press's monograph series, Veterans
Member of Editorial Board

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