William Laird Clowes
Encyclopedia
Sir William Laird Clowes (1 February 1856 – 14 August 1905) was a British journalist and historian whose principal work was The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, a text that is still in print. He also wrote numerous technical pieces on naval technology and strategy and was also noted for his articles concerning racial politics in the Southern United States
. Despite having trained as a lawyer, Clowes had always preferred literature and writing, publishing his first work in 1876 and becoming a full time journalist in 1879. For the services rendered in his career, Clowes was knighted
, awarded the gold medal of the United States Naval Institute
and given a civil list pension. He died in Sussex in 1905 after years of ill-health.
, Clowes was educated at Aldenham School
and studied law at King's College London
and Lincoln's Inn
. In 1876 his first work, a poetic Egyptian love story named Meroë was published and in 1879 he left the law to become a journalist, training outside London
but returning in 1882 with his new wife Ethel Mary Louise. Clowes first job was with the Army and Navy Gazette, at which he rapidly learned about the British military, in particular the Royal Navy
. Writing under the pseudonym Nauticus, Clowes covered the Royal Navy's manouveres in home waters for several newspapers and became an established authority on naval tactics and technology, publishing articles on gunnery, torpedoes and other naval issues of the time. An article written in 1893 has been credited with affecting the naval estimates of that year, the standard by which the relative power of navies was assessed. His 1894 novel, The Captain of the Mary Rose described a fictional modern naval war between Britain and France.
In his professional career, Clowes took a keen interest in the United States of America and travelled there many times, beginning in 1890, when he made an extensive study of race relations in the Southern States. Clowes' articles appeared in The Times
entitled Black America: a Study of the ex-Slave and his Master, and described the segregation then in place in the region, predicting that it could one day erupt in a civil war. He also worked on the European continent, writing or translating articles in French and German. He spent much time as a contributor and editor of encyclopedias, principally on naval issues and was editor of the Naval Pocket Book for some years. He also promoted the publication of inexpensive paperbacks.
In 1897, Clowes gave up his journalistic career to focus on naval history, spending the next six years compiling his best known work, The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900. This publication was well received at the time and remains a standard reference text and in print. Much of his research into the subject was carried out abroad, especially in Davos
, Switzerland
, due to repreated bouts of ill-health. For his services to journalism and naval history, he was made a Knight Bachelor
in 1902, given a civil list pension of £150, invited to join the Institute of Naval Architects and the Royal United Service Institution and presented with the gold medal of the United States Naval Institute
. He also became a Fellow of King's College London
. He died in August 1905 at his home in St Leonards
, East Sussex
, leaving his wife and their son Geoffrey. Lady Clowes was awarded a pension of £100 some months later.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Despite having trained as a lawyer, Clowes had always preferred literature and writing, publishing his first work in 1876 and becoming a full time journalist in 1879. For the services rendered in his career, Clowes was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, awarded the gold medal of the United States Naval Institute
United States Naval Institute
The United States Naval Institute , based at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is a private, non-profit, professional military association that seeks to offer independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national defense issues...
and given a civil list pension. He died in Sussex in 1905 after years of ill-health.
Life
Born in 1856 in HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, Clowes was educated at Aldenham School
Aldenham School
Aldenham School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged thirteen to eighteen, located between Elstree and the village of Aldenham in Hertfordshire, England...
and studied law at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
. In 1876 his first work, a poetic Egyptian love story named Meroë was published and in 1879 he left the law to become a journalist, training outside London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
but returning in 1882 with his new wife Ethel Mary Louise. Clowes first job was with the Army and Navy Gazette, at which he rapidly learned about the British military, in particular the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Writing under the pseudonym Nauticus, Clowes covered the Royal Navy's manouveres in home waters for several newspapers and became an established authority on naval tactics and technology, publishing articles on gunnery, torpedoes and other naval issues of the time. An article written in 1893 has been credited with affecting the naval estimates of that year, the standard by which the relative power of navies was assessed. His 1894 novel, The Captain of the Mary Rose described a fictional modern naval war between Britain and France.
In his professional career, Clowes took a keen interest in the United States of America and travelled there many times, beginning in 1890, when he made an extensive study of race relations in the Southern States. Clowes' articles appeared in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
entitled Black America: a Study of the ex-Slave and his Master, and described the segregation then in place in the region, predicting that it could one day erupt in a civil war. He also worked on the European continent, writing or translating articles in French and German. He spent much time as a contributor and editor of encyclopedias, principally on naval issues and was editor of the Naval Pocket Book for some years. He also promoted the publication of inexpensive paperbacks.
In 1897, Clowes gave up his journalistic career to focus on naval history, spending the next six years compiling his best known work, The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900. This publication was well received at the time and remains a standard reference text and in print. Much of his research into the subject was carried out abroad, especially in Davos
Davos
Davos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, due to repreated bouts of ill-health. For his services to journalism and naval history, he was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1902, given a civil list pension of £150, invited to join the Institute of Naval Architects and the Royal United Service Institution and presented with the gold medal of the United States Naval Institute
United States Naval Institute
The United States Naval Institute , based at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is a private, non-profit, professional military association that seeks to offer independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national defense issues...
. He also became a Fellow of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. He died in August 1905 at his home in St Leonards
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, leaving his wife and their son Geoffrey. Lady Clowes was awarded a pension of £100 some months later.