Elizabeth Preston

Research Topic

Early modern history, specifically focusing on the healthcare and medical provision for sailors during the English Civil Wars (1642-1651)

Supervisor: Andrew Hopper and Ismini Pells

Throughout the period of 1600 - 1650 the British Navy was continually expanding until it took the mantle of the largest fleet in the world. The aim of my research is to explore whether pre-Civil War health care provision structures in the Navy met this increasing demand.

Viewing naval medical care within the context of the Civil Wars provides a unique set of circumstances never seen before in naval history. This period saw a transitional and turbulent naval command, significant advancements in maritime technology, and the considerable growing strain of military casualty care and welfare. This research would ultimately not only contribute towards a more in-depth understanding of early modern naval medicine but also of the administrative function of the Navy as it was transitioning into the world's largest and most effective fleet, and of the transaction between naval affairs, politics and society.

 My research will build upon my previous studies, a MSt in Historical Studies, completed at Oxford University. My thesis focused on healthcare provision and nursing care during the English Civil War, for which I was awarded the Cruttenden Scholarship from Kellogg College. I continue to work as a registered nurse alongside my studies, with a career in clinical education and clinical governance.