Dr. Martyn Powell

Biography

Martyn J Powell's research focuses on Irish, British, and American political, social, and cultural history during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He has a particular interest in how the public sphere and civil society developed during this period, with a specific focus on the intersections of the press, clubs, and societies. He has a long-standing interest in the history of violence in Ireland and is currently engaged in a study provisionally titled 'Houghers and Chalkers: Knife Culture in Revolutionary Ireland, 1760-1815.' This project explores the practice of 'houghing,' a method of wounding animals, which became a feature of popular protest in rural Ireland toward the end of the eighteenth century. Powell collaborates with Robert Jones from the University of Leeds on editing the political works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan for a five-volume edition contracted with the Oxford University Press, linking political culture and the relationship between Sheridan and newspapers. His recent publications include works examining political trials in Ireland and the concept of 'white slavery' in the context of Hiberno-American print culture at the end of the eighteenth century. He continues to supervise PhD students focusing on the political culture of Britain in the 1790s and welcomes proposals for research on Irish and British history between 1700 and 1850, especially those related to political culture.

Research Interests