The Napoleonic era was a transformative age in the development of Alchemy and Chemistry. Explore the fascinating history of alchemy from ancient Egypt to the Napoleonic era, uncovering how early science evolved and influenced modern chemistry. Join Dr. Kit Chapman as he debunks myths, highlights key discoveries, and reveals the surprising connections between alchemy, science, and history. We blow the dust off the test tubes, and pull back the curtain on turning lead into gold, to give you an insight into how much was changing in the modern understanding of science as war waged across Europe.

The Age of Alchemy by Dr. Kit Chapman - https://profilebooks.com/work/the-age-of-alchemy/

Super Heavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table by Dr. Kit Chapman - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/superheavy-9781472953926/

Racing Green: How Motorsport Science Can Save the World by Dr. Kit Chapman - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/racing-green-9781472982186/

Dr. Kit Chapman - Official Website - https://kitchapman.com

Support the show at patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod

Time Stamps:

00:00 The Intersection of Alchemy and Chemistry

04:49 Historical Context of Alchemy

09:59 The Evolution of Alchemy to Chemistry

15:02 The Napoleonic Era and Scientific Inquiry

20:13 War as a Catalyst for Scientific Advancement

24:47 The Role of Antoine Lavoisier

30:54 The Life and Legacy of Antoine Lavoisier

39:27 The Birth of Modern Chemistry

45:35 Humphry Davy and the Discovery of Laughing Gas

48:44 Mary Shelley and the Birth of Science Fiction

54:26 Alchemy's Resurgence in the 19th Century

56:38 Celebrating Unsung Heroes in Science

Keywords

alchemy, history of science, chemistry, Napoleonic era, Lavoisier, alchemy myths, scientific revolution, history of elements, Humphrey Davy, Marie Curie

Catriona Kennedy joins us to explore the history of Catholic emancipation in Britain, the slow shift towards toleration, scapegoating and the final Emancipation Act's social and political implications, along with the key figures involved, including the pivotal role of the Duke of Wellington, Robert Peel and Daniel O'Connell.

Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

Catriona's Work:

Narratives of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Military and Civilian Experience in Britain and Ireland, 1793 to 1815 - https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030559274

Women, Politics and the Irish Public Sphere in the Age of Revolution - https://www.oxford.com/academic/works/9780198807474

University of York - Catriona Kennedy Profile - https://www.york.ac.uk/history/people/academic-staff/katrina-kennedy/

University of Southampton Special Collections - Wellington Papers - https://www.southampton.ac.uk/archives/collections/wellington-papers.page

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Katrina Kennedy

01:00 Historical context: Catholic persecution from the Reformation to 1829

02:25 The legal status of Catholics in Britain in the late 18th century

05:36 Reasons behind the relaxation of anti-Catholic laws in the 1790s

08:55 Impact of the French Revolution on British attitudes towards Catholics

11:03 The shifting concept of Britishness and Irish identity

21:44 The rise of Daniel O'Connell and the Catholic campaign in Ireland

24:19 Wellington's opposition and the political crisis of 1829

33:05 The relationship between King George IV and Wellington during emancipation

37:53 Public opinion, prejudice, and the social impact of emancipation

42:07 Modern parallels: anti-Catholic prejudice and othering

49:43 Conclusion: The social and political legacy of Catholic emancipation

Keywords

Catholic emancipation, British history, Irish history, Act of Union, Daniel O'Connell, Wellington, Irish immigrants, 19th century politics

In this Battle Series episode of the The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we head to southern Italy to unpack the dramatic and sometimes misunderstood Battle of Maida with historian Richard Hopton author of 'The Battle of Maida, 1806: Fifteen Minutes of Glory'.

We set the stage with the wider Mediterranean campaign before diving into the opposing commanders, John Stuart and Jean Reynier, and the bold decisions that brought both armies into open battle.

From the geography of the Maida plain to the eerie “awful silence” before bayonets clash, we reconstruct the battle moment by moment. At its heart lies the famous “fifteen minutes” that shattered the French attack, was this a triumph of fire discipline, leadership, or something more complex?

We also tackle one of Napoleonic history’s biggest debates: line versus column. What really happened on the day, and how did Maida become a textbook case albeit accurately or not?

Finally, we explore the aftermath, its strategic impact, its place in British military memory, and whether Maida deserves its reputation as a pivotal moment.

A fast paced, myth busting deep dive into one of the era’s most fascinating battles that may have set up some of Britain's most decorated commaders for sucess in future campaigns.

For more on Richard’s published works and where to find them, please click here Richard Hopton - Author | Historian | Journalist - Richard Hopton