Departments and Institutes
Research Interests
British history from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth centuries. I have just completed a large volume on the period 1783-1846 for the New Oxford History of England series. This has necessitated a synoptic approach to the period, taking in political, social, economic, cultural, intellectual, military, gender, and many other themes. My previous work focused mainly on politics, economic and social thought and policy, religion (especially evangelicalism); and scientific controversy.
Research Supervision
Mainly British history from the mid eighteenth to the mid nineteenth century: My current research students are working on religious ideology and eighteenth-century penal theory; interactions between the thought of William Paley and Robert Malthus; the politics of national defence during the Napoleonic wars and its impact on national identity; the impact of the Clapham Sect and the development of Anglican evangelical religious networks; Whig statesmen and the impact of natural science on government, 1807-52.
Teaching
For Part I of the Tripos I teach British political, intellectual, and cultural history since 1700. Together with Dr Jonathan Parry I teach a Part II special subject on 'Culture Wars in Mid-Victorian England 1848-1859', and I contribute to the Part II specified subject on 'The Politics of Gender: Great Britain and Ireland 1790-1990'.
Key Publications
Note: Articles on Peel, Gladstone, and Disraeli, and on religious, and scientific themes.