The South Kingstown Committee for the Celebration of the Semi-Quincentennial of the United States is pleased to announce the second installment of its 11-part Speaker Series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The presentation, “The French Navy in Newport During the American Revolution, 1778–1781,” will take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the South Kingstown High School Auditorium, located at 215 Columbia Street, Wakefield, RI.
The featured speaker is Evan Wilson, D. Phil., Assoc. Professor at the US Naval War College, John B. Hattendorf Center for Maritime Historical Research. He will explore the critical role played by the French Navy in Newport during the American Revolution, highlighting the years 1778 to 1781 when French naval forces and their commanders helped shape the outcome of the war. Wilson’s presentation will examine the strategic importance of Newport, Franco-American cooperation, and the lasting impact of this alliance on Rhode Island and the emerging nation.
Dr. Wilson is a recipient of the Sir Julian Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History, he researches the naval history of Britain and other countries from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. He is the author or editor of seven books, most recently Planning for War at Sea: 400 Years of Great Power Competition (Naval Institute, 2025), which he edited with Paul Kennedy. Before coming to Newport, he was the Caird Senior Research Fellow at the National Maritime Museum (UK) and the Associate Director of International Security Studies at Yale University. He holds degrees from Yale, Cambridge and Oxford.
This event is part of an ongoing Speaker Series designed to engage the community in local, regional, and national history as the country approaches the America 250 commemoration in 2026. It is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend.
Additional details about future presentations in the Speaker Series will be announced throughout the year. Visit www.southkingstownri.gov/usa250 for more information on 250th events and programs in South Kingstown.