Sunday, August 22, 2010

Johns Hopkins Press Author, Dr. Eshelman, to Speak on War of 1812 in MD at Annual Historical Society Meeting, Oct. 18

One of the authors of a newly published Johns Hopkins University title, the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake, will be the guest speaker for the annual Historical Society meeting on October 18th in Chesapeake City. Dr. Ralph Eshelman spent years investigating sites connected with the conflict in Maryland so as the bicentennial of this chapter of our past nears, we’re pleased to have the opportunity to hear the distinguished historian.

His presentation will focus on the campaign in Maryland and our general area. “No state has more battlefields, graves or sites associated with the War,” he noted in a Washington College lecture. “Elkton and St. Michaels share the distinction of turning the British back twice.”

Dr. Eshelman was the director of the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland from 1974 to 1990. In 1974 he received his Ph.D. in geology and vertebrate paleontology from the University of Michigan. He’s now a research associate at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. He is widely published and lectures on maritime and military history, popular exploration and paleontology. In addition he also served as a consulting historian on the War of 1812 on the Chesapeake for the Maryland Historical Trust and the National Park Service.

The evening program will be held at the Chesapeake Inn in Chesaepake City, MD, start at 6;00 p.m. with dinner on Oct. 18th. Watch for additional information on the evening’s arrangements soon, but keep this important date on your calendar. The author’s book will be available for purchase.