Dr Helen Doe

maritime historian, author and lecturer

Helen Doe is a maritime historian, author and lecturer. She specialises in maritime business history, which has produced some fascinating stories of every type of business including smuggling.

Helen Doe (photograph by Sue Lace)

Her particular interests and expertise include:

  • women shipbuilders and shipowners
  • smuggling in Cornwall
  • maritime insurance clubs
  • the maritime history of Fowey
  • navy wives and widows

Helen has published widely on maritime history. Her books include:

  • An Introduction to Cornish Maritime History
  • Jane Slade of Polruan: The inspiration for Daphne du Maurier's first novel
  • Enterprising Women and Shipping in the Nineteenth Century
  • From Coastal Sail to Global Shipping: A History of the Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association, 1909 to 2009

Helen is finishing a short history of Fowey for Tor Mark Press. She is one of three editors on a major publication The Maritime History of Cornwall for the University of Exeter Press, which involves many well known international scholars and ranges from the mediaeval period to the twentieth century.

A popular speaker, Helen has spoken at several literary festivals, has appeared on television and been heard on Radio 4. She has advised on TV programmes including most recently a BBC programme on wrecking. See a list of her recent talks