Jennifer Davey

I am an historian of Modern Britain, with a particular interest in the politics and culture of Victorian Britain. My recent publications explore the multifaceted nature of female political influence in Victorian Britain. My first book – ‘Mary, Countess of Derby and the politics of Victorian Britain’ (OUP, 2019) – explored how a woman was able to carve out a career as a politician in the mid-nineteenth century. My current research project focuses on the relationship between Queen Victoria and her subjects and I am writing a book for OUP provisionally titled “Queen and Country”.

Since my appointment in 2012, I have served in a number of administrative roles, including Employability Director; Deputy Admissions Director; Course Director for the BA in History and the MA in Modern British History; and Induction Co-ordinator. I currently serve as Deputy Head of School.  

I am currently Editor-in-Chief for History: The Journal of the Historical Association and I sit on the HA’s Higher Education Committee.

I teach undergradate and postgraduate modern British history. I convene the core first year module Introduction to Modern History; second year modules Victorian Britain and The Duchess of Devonshire to Nancy Astor: Women, Power and Politics and the third year special subject We are not Amused: The Life and Times of Queen Victoria. I also run a MA tutorial on female lives in Victorian Britain.  

Deputy Head of School