Going Among English Sailors: American Tars Aboard HMS Belvidera, 1809-1814
By Andrew J. Lyter
Pilottown Press, 2024

Twenty-two American sailors served aboard the British naval ship HMS Belvidera during the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812, and the bombardment of Lewes, DE in 1813. Their time in the Royal Navy coincided with an era of fluid nationalities on the waterfront, creating ambiguity for laborers at sea about what it meant to be an American. Drawing from the National Archives of the United Kingdom and other sources, Lyter captures the untold story of the sailors’ tumultuous and complex lives, offering a nuanced perspective on this chapter in maritime history.

This event is presented in partnership with Historic Lewes. 

About the Author
Andrew J. Lyter is the Curator of Maritime History at Historic Lewes. A maritime historian, Lyter is pursuing his PhD at the University of Portsmouth. He is an avid sailor, regularly crewing aboard tall ships in the US and UK. He lives with his family in Lewes.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partners — Delaware Humanities and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2025 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. 

Thanks to all of our donors, especially our education and outreach funding partners: Ronald Collins & Susan Cohen, Carolyn & Aaron Nayer, Jen Mason & Clare Hancock, and Browseabout Books. HBF authors visit classrooms in Delaware, and HBF provides their books to schools, libraries, and community organizations.

Our Keynote event is presented by Griswold Home Care for Sussex and Kent Counties and Sally Mott Freeman & John K. Freeman; our Closing event is presented by the Delaware Community Foundation. Saturday’s Spirited Discussion, our gathering for attendees and presenters to celebrate and discuss their day, is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence.

Special thanks to our Founding Program Partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library, for event promotion and production, and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Thanks also to the  Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.