Thursday, October 9, 2025
Richard I. Burnham Resource Center — 82 Touro Street, Newport
Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM for a complimentary reception)
Admission: $15 to $20 per person; students $10 with valid ID
This lecture examines American independence through a British lens, focusing on how officials of the era viewed the Continental Navy. While Rhode Island’s maritime role and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy are cause for commemoration by the Newport Historical Society, the program considers questions from the imperial side: How formidable was the Continental Navy in British eyes? Did policymakers in London believe targeting American maritime activity would secure victory, or did they prioritize other strategies? Tracing how British thinking evolved over the course of the war offers a fuller understanding of Rhode Island’s place in American naval history and the struggle for independence.
