Britain’s Royal Navy played a huge part in the War of 1812 in the Northwest Territory of the U.S. Taking harbors, ships and crew, the British maintained a reputation as a major maritime force. This lecture will deal with the events and effects of the British navy in the Great Lakes during this turbulent period and is the fifth in a series of lectures that complements the museum’s “War on the Great Lakes” exhibit, celebrating the 200th anniversary of this little understood conflict.

The program takes place at the museum at 2 p.m. Sunday and is free for members. Non-members are invited to this special presentation as part of their $6 admission fee. No reservations are required, and refreshments will be served. The featured speaker is maritime expert Gordon Laco.

Laco has made a career evangelizing history through film and television from his base of operations in Midland, Ontario. His area of specialty is helping productions achieve authenticity and the feel of gritty reality. He has served as consultant or producer to more than 50 television and film productions including “Master and Commander, the Far Side of the World” for which he was lead technical advisor, and “Pirates of the Caribbean II, III and IV,” for which he supplied authentic rigging and ship’s fittings. He has participated in three documentary projects dealing with the Great War and which involved battlefield archaeology on sites at the Western Front in France.

Laco was co-founder of Atlantic Challenge Canada, part of a growing worldwide youth movement which utilizes seamanship in historic open boats to empower young people. He went to Ireland in July 2012 as trainer for the Canadian team as it competed in the biannual international Atlantic Challenge Contest of Seamanship.
He sits on the boards of directors of Tall Ships America and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. Laco is a serving officer in the Royal Canadian Navy’s Reserve.

Call (800) 747-3810 or visit www.michiganmaritmemuseum.org.