Sam Willis

Sam Willis is a celebrated British historian, television presenter, and writer, specializing in maritime and naval history, who shares his extensive knowledge through television series, books, and podcasts. After presenting the BBC4 film ‘Nelson’s Caribbean Hell-Hole’ in 2012, Dr. Sam Willis cemented his transition from academia to public engagement, establishing himself as a distinguished British historian and presenter. His extensive academic background includes a PhD in Naval History from Exeter University, where he focused on ‘Capability, control and tactics in the eighteenth century Royal Navy,’ and an MA in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Bristol.

He presented Britain’s Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates & Rogues for BBC4 in October 2015. The year 2016 marked a significant step with the BBC broadcast of The Silk Road, charting his journey from Xi’an to Venice, and his first series for National Geographic, Nazi Weird War Two, which premiered in December. His prolific output continued into 2017 with three BBC Four series: Sword, Musket and Machine Gun: Britain’s Armed History, Invasion!, and the National Geographic production Maritime Silk Road Reborn. His partnership with National Geographic further flourished with Silk Railroad in 2018 and China Relics Decoded in 2019, showcasing his expertise in global historical narratives.

He also holds the position of editor for Navy Records Online, an online publishing division of the Navy Records Society. Dr. Willis continues to be a sought-after historian and presenter, valued for his ability to translate complex historical narratives into engaging and accessible content for diverse audiences across television, print, and digital platforms.