Yale historian calls for new industrial revolution

Mar 20 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

But the international bestseller secured his reputation as an historian of stature. He is now known for his writings and commentaries on global political, economic, and strategic issues.

However, his family background never hinted at such a distinguished academic career. He planned to be a journalist but that changed when he achieved the first first-class degree in history at Newcastle University. A scholarship for a PhD at St Antony’s College, Oxford, followed.

Professor Kennedy is now naval and diplomatic historian at Yale and has since advised on US national policy and conducted a three-year audit on the running of the United Nations.

He told the audience at the first Lucy Houston Memorial Lecture that Britain’s record in producing ideas that create economic prosperity is world-class, but the support materials needed for growth are often lacking.

To contribute more effectively to “economic prosperity”, the materials need to be better provided nationally, he said.

The event was organised by the SMART Winners’ Club for the Eastern counties.

The club circulates business hints among its membership of more than 4,000 small but highly resilient companies which boast world-class technological expertise.

The lecture celebrate past winners of DTI ‘SMART” awards who have achieved 10 years of successful business trading. Guest of honour at the event was Correlli Barnett, whose books chart the decline of Britain from imperial power to post World War II austerity.

The event is named after Lady Lucy Houston who provided huge donations to the Supermarine Company and to Rolls Royce to enable work on the Spitfire and Merlin engines to proceed in the 1930s.