NewS & Events
St Helena
1792-1840:
Slavery to Freedom
The Enslaved Person's Experience
Colin Fox
Independent Author and Researcher
Author Colin Fox traces St Helena's journey from reliance on enslaved labour to free, waged labour, focusing on how enslaved people themselves experienced the almost 50-year process and using verbatim testimony of enslaved people's complaints about their mistreatment and lack of redress.
Colin is the author of A Bitter Draught: St Helena and the Abolition of Slavery (2017), a comprehensive study and documentary resource book that grew out of his own family history and the discovery that his maternal grandmother's great-grandfather, Captain James Bennett of the East India Company's service, owned eight enslaved labourers.
A Bitter Draught is published by the Friends of St Helena, of which Colin is a long-serving member. The book can be purchased from their website and they have many other resources available on St Helenian history, particularly family history, via the website too.
Please note that the topic of this talk is a painful one and includes information that people may find distressing.
Recorded on 3 December 2025.
Anthony Emmett of the Royal Engineers
A Cosmopolitan Military Architect on St Helena and Napoleon Fan
Dr Peter Hicks
Fondation Napoléon, Paris
Historian Peter Hicks explores the fascinating but little-known personality of Anthony Emmett, commanding royal engineer on St Helena during Napoléon's exile. It was a role that put him in charge of the upkeep of all the fortifications and defences of the island, the building of Bertrand’s Cottage, the assembling of the prefabricated New Longwood House, and the excavation of Napoléon’s tomb. Much to the disgust of Governor Sir Hudson Lowe, young Emmett was a fan of Napoléon. He was also thought to be a bit too admiring of the ideals of the French Revolution. Fellow officers nicknamed him 'Mark Antony', because he was nostalgic for 'Caesar'...
Recorded on 12 November 2025.
St Helena - Gateway to Britain's Asian Empire
Dr John McAleer
Southampton University
Historian John McAleer explores St Helena's pivotal role in the English East India Company's growth as an imperial power in Asia in the 17th and 18th centuries with some fascinating accounts of how highly the island was valued: 'A place of refreshment', where ailing mariners were not so much restored as 'resurrected'. Illustrated with some of the finest paintings of St Helena from the Company period.
Recorded on 14 October 2025.
A kick from the Ass:
Bonaparte & Lowe
A debate with
Andrew Roberts & Sir Brian Unwin
In this fascinating live debate, distinguished historian Andrew Roberts and Chair of the British Napoleonic Bicentenary Trust Sir Brian Unwin examine the relationship between two very different men – one a colossus of history; the other a humble civil servant – and consider how history has judged them.
Contemplations on Exile
With Prof. Dan Yon, Prof. Hlonipha Mokoena & Will Atkins
Dan Yon shares his 'Contemplations on Exile'; with historian Hlonipha Mokoena and the author and travel writer Will Atkins. They will discuss St Helena’s long history as a place of banishment and isolation, and the significance of this to the Island’s identity.
Napoleon's Last Battle
With Adam Zamoyski &
Professor Alan Forrest
When Napoleon was sent to exile on Saint Helena, the final battle of his life commenced - for his legacy. Join eminent historians Adam Zamoyski and Professor Alan Forrest discuss how the accounts of Napoleon on St Helena were written , and why they elicited such sympathy - even in Britain.
British Witnesses to Napoleon
With Peter Hicks
The death of Napoleon St Helena brought to a crescendo 25 years of English-language publishing on the Emperor. Thousands of pages all appeared within two years of his demise . Peter Hicks proposes to highlight recent research and discoveries in British relations with Napoleon on St Helena.
Toby, Napoleon and Slavery on Saint Helena
With Prof Daniel Yon, Colin Fox
& Dr Andrew Pearson
Our speakers discuss the history of slavery on the island of Saint Helena, slavery in the time of Napoleon and an unlikely friendship that developed between the Emperor and Toby, a slave living on the estate of The Briars.
A tour of Saint Helena
With Brent Fortenberry PhD &
Dr Oliver Cox
Brent Fortenberry (Texas A&M) and Oliver Cox (Oxford Humanities Division) present a virtual tour through the heritage sites of Saint Helena. With the remarkable use of 3D imaging, this event is a chance to become familiar with the lesser-known sites on the island, to learn of their history and potentially save them from ruin.
Napoleon 200
Launch event
With Sir Brian Unwin &
Dan Cruickshank
On September 10th, the British Napoleonic Bicentenary Trust officially launched Napoleon 200 - a project which aims to consider the significance of Napoleon’s death on Saint Helena and to preserve the built and cultural heritage of the island. Join our trustees in this event to learn more about the project, it's aims and how you can get involved in our events leading up to May 5th, 2021.