Churchill Archives Centre

‘A Veritable Volcano’ The Life and Legacy of Admiral Lord ‘Jacky’ Fisher

Tue 20 October 2020

Online event, Churchill Archives Centre

Online talks and panels organised by the Churchill Archives Centre to commemorate and debate the life and legacy of Admiral Lord ‘Jacky’ Fisher (1841-1920). The event is being held to mark the centenary of Fisher’s death and to celebrate the transfer of new material to the Churchill Archives Centre. Fisher became First Sea Lord for the first time on 20 October 1904.

Fisher was one of the most famous men of his age; an innovator who drove the transformation of the Royal Navy prior to the First World War, introducing the new big gun battleships while reforming gunnery, training and conditions. Having retired in 1910, he was brought back as First Sea Lord for a second term by Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, in October 1914. Yet within the space of six months, the relationship between the two men had broken down over the failure of the Dardanelles operation, ultimately costing them both their jobs.

Speakers include:
Professor Andrew Lambert, Dr John Brooks, Professor Matthew Seligmann, Captain Peter Hore, Professor Barry Gough, Penelope Fisher (filmmaker and Fisher’s great great granddaughter) and Rear Admiral Chris Parry.

Programme:

15:00 Welcome by Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre

15:05 Introduction by Professor Barry Gough (Professor Emeritus, Wilfrid Laurier University) on the significance of Fisher’s Life and Legacy

15:20 Panel 1: The career of Admiral Lord Fisher
Chair: Professor Andrew Lambert (Laughton Professor of Naval History, King’s College, London)
Panellists:
- Dr John Brooks (Naval Historian)
- Captain Peter Hore (Naval Historian)
- Professor Matthew Seligmann (Brunel University)

16:00 Presentation by Great Grandson Lord Fisher and his daughter Penelope from Kilverstone Hall
Penelope Fisher is producer of "Sea Lord", Trident Films www.tridentfilms.co.uk

16:15 Panel 2: The Legacy of Admiral Lord Fisher
Chair: Allen Packwood
Panellists:
- Penelope Fisher (Producer of "Sea Lord")
- Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry (strategic forecaster, broadcaster and author, former Visiting Fellow of Churchill College)
- Dr Laura Rowe (Exeter University)
- Tom Williams (Scriptwriter "Sea Lord")

16:55 Final words from Admiral Sir Jock Slater (former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff)

Cost: Free (for Cambridge University members) or £10