Bermuda 2012

The Naval Dockyards Society and the National Museum of Bermuda

Bermuda Dockyard and the War of 1812
Conference and Tour Thursday June 7 – Tuesday June 12, 2012

The final full details of the conference and tour, including speaker biographies, together with the booking form, are available here.  

Further information is also available at this website.

Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, this conference will examine Bermuda’s vital role during this conflict. Bermuda became the Royal Navy’s warm water North Atlantic base in the 1790s, supporting trade routes and colonies after Britain lost control of its American colonies and ports during the American War for Independence. Following the French and Napoleonic wars, persisting tensions with America and France escalated into maritime trade disagreements and ultimately full-scale naval conflict. Strategically ideal owing to its geography, Bermuda was the natural naval focus for the American blockade and the burning of Washington, benefiting economically as a supply base and prize court. Well after the peace treaty, Bermuda continued to be highly valued, and was indeed enlarged by the Royal Navy. The dockyard had a long history until it closed in 1951, so this is just one, albeit an important aspect of Bermuda’s naval and wider maritime heritage.
The dockyard and military defences developed at Bermuda during this intense period survive largely intact today and arguably merit World Heritage status. The National Museum of Bermuda and Naval Dockyards Society anticipate that these monuments and the Atlantic context of the War of 1812 will inspire new histories and connections during the conference. We look forward to this joint mission to promote dockyard history and heritage through a notable conference and tour.

The international conference on the theme of Bermuda Dockyard and the War of 1812 will be enhanced by Bermuda heritage tours, enriched by the expertise of National Museum of Bermuda Executive Director Dr Edward Harris, Consultant Curator and Heritage Researcher Dr Charlotte Andrews and other heritage professionals and stakeholders.

Programme:

• Thursday 7 June 1st night: Arrival (UK delegates arrive from London Gatwick 18.20 on BA2233)
• Friday 8 June Day 1 Hamilton walking and harbour tours
• Saturday 9 June Day 2 Conference at the National Museum of Bermuda
• Sunday 10 June Day 3 Dockyard tour
• Monday 11 June Day 4 St George’s tours
• Tuesday 12 June Day 5 Free time; departure (UK delegates depart at 20.10 on BA2232 to London Gatwick)