The British in the Adriatic, 18001825 brings together three detailed studies of British naval and military, diplomatic and commercial activity in the eastern Adriatic during the Napoleonic wars, drawing on original research in various British archives. A focus is the strategically important island of Vis, where there are the remains of British fortifications, another the town of Rijeka where a leading merchant had lengthy dealings with the British Navy Board for the provision of timber.
The third part, hitherto unpublished, was written on the bicentenary in 2012 of Napoleons invasion of Russia. It investigates the unrealized plans by the British and Russians for a diversionary attack in the Adriatic.
Foreword Part 1: The British Navy, Rijeka and A.L. Adamic: War and Trade in the Adriatic 1800-25 The Arrival of John Leard in Rijeka, 1802 Nelson, convoys and naval supplies, 1803-04 The Oak Timber Project The War of the Third Coalition Trade War 1806-9 The War of 1809 Travels 1810-12 The Timber Contract of 1812 Adamic's Return to Rijeka, 1812 The Aborted Insurrection, February-April 1813 The British Attack on Rijeka, July 1813 Nugent liberates Rijeka, August 1813 Adamic's return to Rijeka, autumn 1813 The End of the War Leard's return to Rijeka, July 1814 The Last Timber Contract 1818-20 Epilogue Part 2: The British and Vis: War in the Adriatic 1805-15 Introduction: The British and the Adriatic The defence of Lissa: A safe harbour The defence of Lissa: Delays and surveys Project for the Defence of Lissa The defence of Lissa: Occupation and fortification Life on Lissa The British leave Lissa Appendix 1: Sources Appendix 2: Names Appendix 3: Biographical notes Appendix 4: Ships and soldiers Appendix 5: Remains Part 3: A Diversionary Attack in the Adriatic 1812 The British, Montenegro and Russia 1812 Admiral Fremantle goes to Lissa News of Chichagov Admiral Grieg arrives in Sicily Fremantle and Montenegro: Second Phase After Chichagov
Malcolm Scott Hardy is a former British Council officer with a long relationship with Croatia since working in Zagreb 1970-73. He has a B.A. in History (University College London) and M.Phil. in Combined Historical Studies (Warburg Institute, London University). After teaching in Finland his career with the British Council, primarily engaged with the arts, also took him to Pakistan, France and Italy. He is married to Vesna Domany from Zagreb who has assisted him with this research.
