GROG! (PowerPoint)
A hilarious look at the most famous drink afloat, with audience drinking participation in 10 naval toasts from the Canadian, U.S. and Royal navies.
Internationally Acclaimed Lecturer
Lectures, Media & Commentary
Robert brings maritime history, naval culture, Florida stories, and global events to life for audiences of all kinds.
For Hosts & Audiences
Fees are based on the time at the venue plus travel expenses such as mileage, lodging & meals. Each lecture is typically 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A, then time for book signings. Some of these 70+ lectures can be simplified into a 20 minute after-meal [breakfast, lunch, dinner] talk.
Audio/visual/laptop equipment needs to be provided by the host venue. For the PowerPoint options, a PC friendly thumb drive {memory stick} or disk will be furnished. An individual lecture or a series of appearances may be booked. Mr. Macomber’s schedule is typically set well in advance, although there are times when a last minute booking can be made. This vast array of lectures spans the globe! Please contact Business Mgr., Nancy Glickman, at Robert.Macomber1@gmail.com for details and scheduling.
Lecture Topics
Programs on maritime history, naval tradition, Florida, Cuba, world wars, and life at sea.
LIFE AT SEA - The Culture of Sailors at Sea
SAILOR TALK (PowerPoint)
The intriguing language of the sea, and how much of it has come ashore into everyday conversations.
SALTY SUPERSTITIONS (PowerPoint)
The strange do’s and don’ts of life at sea.
FROM SAIL TO STEAM (PowerPoint)
How the first ship engines changed life, for better and for worse, at sea and ashore from canvas to coal.
GENERAL HISTORY ~ THEODORE ROOSEVELT - The Man and His Legacy
THEODORE ROOSEVELT {1858-1898} ~ THE CLIMB (PowerPoint)
From tragedies to victory, this span of years was the making of an extraordinary man and is the remarkable story of Roosevelt's life from his birth in 1858 to his national prominence in 1898.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT {1898-1919} ~ THE SUMMIT (PowerPoint)
This presentation covers from 1898 to 1919 during Roosevelt's history-changing presidency & tumultuous post-presidency, highlighting events which have left his legacy throughout the world to this very day.
FLORIDA HISTORY
HOMELAND DEFENSE IN SW FLORIDA ~ THE CALUSA (PowerPoint)
How was the Calusa empire never defeated by the Spanish for over 150 years? This is a fascinating look at one of the few pre-Columbian cultures who held out against all odds, and what finally did them in....
FLORIDA’S 23-YEAR LONG SEMINOLE WAR (PowerPoint)
The legendary Seminoles fought a long losing war, but some never surrendered.
THE BLACK SEMINOLES OF THE BAHAMAS (PowerPoint)
How escaped Carolina-Georgia low country slaves and defiant Florida Seminoles sought freedom in the British Bahamas ... and are still there!
FLORIDA AND CUBA ~ 500 YEARS (PowerPoint)
From conquistadors in 1513 to gun-runners in the 1880s, to freedom fighters in the 1960s and up to refugees in the 2000s, Florida was in the middle of it all.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN FLORIDA (PowerPoint)
In recognition of the 250th Anniversary, learn how the Spanish and Cubans helped Americans be free.
THE U.S. NAVY’S ANTI-SLAVERY PATROL {1842-1862} (PowerPoint)
Learn the little-known story of brave American naval sailors who tried from 1842 to 1862 to stop the horrific illegal slave trade in Africa and the Caribbean, and Florida's surprising role in that effort.
SLAVERY IN FLORIDA DURING THE CIVIL WAR {1860-1865} (PowerPoint)
Discover the gripping facts of that period in Florida’s history, including a remarkably brave unsung hero.
FROM SLAVES TO CITIZENS - FLORIDA'S FREEDMEN {1865-1872} (PowerPoint)
A remarkable account of how President Abraham Lincoln's dream came true, even after his assassination, where newly freed slaves would be assimilated into society, with a focus on FL's Freedmen's Bureau.
FLORIDA'S NAVAL CIVIL WAR (PowerPoint)
Blockaders, rebel smugglers, international incidents and amphibious raiders … all a part of the little-known story of the naval war along FL’s coast. From the beginning of the Civil War (1860-1865), Florida was a crucial state for both sides.
THE PATRIOT & THE WIDOW (PowerPoint)
The touching story of a pro-Union couple on Useppa Island, Florida.
SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS IN THE U.S. CIVIL WAR (PowerPoint)
Learn how, from the beginning to the end of the Civil War, Florida had a critical role for both sides. In particular, the SW Florida coastal islands were part of the action and intrigue. These islands saw naval actions, heard gunfire, were associated with a clandestine escape operation, and are home to several wartime shipwrecks.
MARCO ISLAND IN THE CIVIL WAR (PowerPoint)
How Marco Island, Florida was used as a blockade-runner hideout during the war (1863-1865).
THE GREAT ESCAPE (PowerPoint)
This is the riveting tale of Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin’s 1865 epic escape to freedom along Florida’s coast.
KEY WEST IN THE CIVIL WAR (PowerPoint)
The little-known story of Civil War death and bravery at Key West, Florida ((1860–1865), with places you can still see today!
THE PRESIDENT AND THE DEVILFISH (PowerPoint)
Here's an astonishing and amusing look at Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most unusual visiting fishermen and conservationists, who made a lasting impact, and learn about his 1917 expedition to SW Florida in search of a world record ‘devilfish’.
THE BLOOD FEATHERS OF FLORIDA’S BIRDS (PowerPoint)
This is a true report about the women who wore Florida's bird feathers, the men who massacred those birds, and the heroes who died defending Florida's birds.
FLORIDA’S SURPRISING ROLE IN WORLD WAR I (PowerPoint)
In the air, on the land, and out at sea, Florida trained Americans for The Great War.
WORLD WAR II IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (PowerPoint)
See and hear the poignant account of British fighter pilots, American aerial gunners, Coast Guard beach patrols, and German POWs, in what is now a paradise of tranquil shoreline and beautiful seashells!
DEEP DITCHES & BRIGHT LIGHTS IN SHALLOW WATERS (PowerPoint)
The story of how SW Florida got the channels and lighthouses we rely upon these days … with some surprising details!
CREOLES & CAJUNS ~ LOUISIANA’S GUMBO OF LANGUAGE & GEO-CULTURE (PowerPoint)
The fun & fascinating differences & similarities of Creoles & Cajuns in the great state of Louisiana!
THE U.S. CIVIL WAR BEYOND FLORIDA
HITTING HOME (PowerPoint)
Did you know there was an 1863 Confederate naval raid on New England?
THE AMERICA'S CUP AND THE CIVIL WAR (PowerPoint)
This is the remarkable story of schooner America, from racer to warship to icon, and its connection to the Civil War in 1862.
BLOOD MONEY (PowerPoint)
What a story ~ the pivotal role of the Caribbean during the U.S. Civil War from 1861-1865; the places where fortunes were made, battles were fought and spies mingled … !
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR IN FLORIDA AND CUBA (1898)
YACHTS THAT WENT TO WAR (PowerPoint)
Will you be surprised to learn that elegant yachts were turned into warships during the Spanish-American War?
CONFEDERATE GENERALS IN UNION BLUE ~ 33 YEARS LATER (PowerPoint)
How two of the most famous Confederate generals helped bring America back together 33 years after the Civil War.
FLORIDA’S CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR {1898} (PowerPoint)
This war changed the USA from a continental country into a global power. Learn how close we came to losing this war in Cuba. Marvel at the fascinating personalities who led the way, and the related places of interest you can visit today.
CUBA'S 30-YEAR STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN (PowerPoint)
Gain an incredible overview of how patriots on the island and exiles in the United States struggled through three hot wars, interspersed by periods of smoldering intrigue, to form an independent Cuban nation {1868-1898}.
THE AMERICAN INVASION OF CUBA {1898} (PowerPoint)
From the destruction of the USS Maine to the mobilization of America’s military might, the beginning of the Spanish-Cuban-American War did not unfold the way the press, the government, or the military anticipated, and this was how it started.
A TEST OF STRENGTH ~ THE LAND BATTLE FOR SANTIAGO DE CUBA (PowerPoint)
Here’s what really happened in the 1898 battles of El Caney, Kettle Hill, and San Juan Heights, which were anything but easy for the U.S. Army, with the worst yet to come.
A MATTER OF HONOR ~ THE NAVAL BATTLE OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA (PowerPoint)
This climactic naval battle of the 1898 war in Cuba displayed desperate measures of Spanish bravery and American skill, but this great sea fight wasn’t the end, and this phase of the war nearly became a complete disaster for the Americans.
HISTORY OF THE GENERAL ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA
MYTHICAL ISLANDS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC (PowerPoint)
Immerse yourself into sailors' legends about, and journeys to, mythical Atlantic islands, dating back to Medieval times up to the early 20th century.
THE SAILOR WHO CHANGED HISTORY (PowerPoint)
Learn the real story of master navigator and explorer Christopher Columbus, his four history-making voyages which yielded triumph and treachery, and the mysteries which surround him to this very day.
THE GREAT ARMADAS (PowerPoint)
Learn how treasure fleets brought the incredible riches of the world to Spain for 300 years, at the heart of legends and dreams.
UNSUNG HEROES OF WORLD WAR II IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
THE U.S. NAVY’S UNDECLARED WAR AGAINST NAZI U-BOATS {1941} (PowerPoint)
Did you know that U.S. sailors fought and died in North Atlantic anti-submarine action before America joined World War II?
THE WEATHER WAR IN THE HIGH NORTH ATLANTIC {1940-1945} (PowerPoint)
Be spellbound by this true account of how meteorology led Germans, Danes, British, Canadians, and Americans all to the high North Atlantic in a conflict centered around the convoy shipping routes of World War II.
DAVID vs GOLIATH ~ CUBA’S ASTONISHING 1943 NAVAL VICTORY OVER NAZI GERMANY (PowerPoint)
Don't miss this heartwarming story of Cuban sailors’ bravery, skill and perseverance in a history-making naval victory.
A COAST GUARDSMAN’S VICTORY OVER NAZI SABOTEURS IN AMERICA {1942} (PowerPoint)
How one young Coastguardsman foiled a deadly Nazi plot for widespread sabotage in the USA.
UNSUNG HEROES OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN
INTO HARM'S WAY UNDER SAIL ~ THE INCREDIBLE ESCAPE OF FDR's 1941 SPY MISSION AGAINST JAPAN (PowerPoint)
Join this 5,000-mile voyage through the Japanese onslaught in the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies days before Pearl Harbor; a trip to remember!
BAREFOOT MARINES {1941-1945} (PowerPoint)
The Fita Fita Guards of American Samoa: A heartwarming story of the warriors of American Samoa who stood guard against the Japanese onslaught in World War II and began the proud Samoan tradition of service in the U.S. military.
CANNONS & CANVAS ~ THE FINAL NAVAL BATTLE OF WORLD WAR II IN CHINA {1945} (PowerPoint)
They thought it was finally over … until they had to fight for their lives on Chinese sailing junks!
UNSUNG HEROES AMONG OUR ENEMIES DURING WORLD WAR II
RESISTING HITLER ~ GERMAN PASTORS PREACHING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS {1935-1942} (PowerPoint)
They taught Jesus’ message and paid the horrific price; a study in true heroism.
RESISTING HITLER ~ THE GERMAN MILITARY PLOTS AGAINST HITLER {1943-1944} (PowerPoint)
How did they try? How did they fail? And what was the result?
THE ITALIAN NAVY’S DECIMA MAS (PowerPoint)
An incredible World War II story of the 1st naval special operations unit in history; the professional predecessor of the famous U.S. Navy SEALs.
LAST MAN STANDING WITH HONOR ~ JAPAN’S FINAL COMBATANT CAPTURED {1943-1974} (PowerPoint)
A tearjerker, this amazing story is about how an indigenous Taiwanese in the Imperial Japanese Army held on to his honor for 30 years, and what happened after he finally was captured.
THE BEAR AND THE EAGLE ~ RUSSIAN-AMERICAN HISTORY
RUSSIA’S INTRIGUING ROLE IN THE U.S. CIVIL WAR {1863-1867} (PowerPoint)
From New York to Alaska, the Russian Empire was involved in America's Civil War, with consequences for both, which last to this day.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND RUSSIA’S ANTI-JEWISH POGROMS {1903} (PowerPoint)
This is how an American president stood up to the autocratic Russian Tsar over the systematic persecution of Russia’s Jews—a prelude to events three decades later.
RUSSIA’S REMARKABLE WAR VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD TO JAPAN {1904-1905} (PowerPoint)
The largest Russian fleet ever assembled steamed 18,000-miles on a doomed mission to save Russia's Pacific coast with an outcome that changed history and led to Pearl Harbor 36-years later.
OKHRANA ~ DISINFORMATION, DECEPTION, DISRUPTION, AND DEATH (PowerPoint)
Take a look into the dreaded Russian Imperial secret intelligence apparatus from 1881 to 1917, along with its foreign and domestic strategy and tactics which have been passed down for over a century to its modern descendant, the SVR, with profound world influence.
THE BLOODY COUSINS ~ WHO CREATED WORLD WAR I {1900-1918} (PowerPoint)
It's hard to imagine the truth behind this poignant story of three royal emperors: Tsar Nicholas II, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and King George V, descending from family rivalry into world war carnage.
WHEN THE USA INVADED RUSSIA (PowerPoint)
Gain a rare understanding of this little-known account of the 1918-1920 invasion of Russia by 13,000 U.S. soldiers and sailors, and other Allied nations, on the Arctic and Pacific coasts.
JAPAN'S ASCENSION TO WORLD POWER ~ THE RISING SUN SERIES
THE RISING SUN SERIES (4 PowerPoints)
Learn from this insightful overview of arcane historical backgrounds for tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on Japan’s remarkable rise to becoming a global power.
Part 1 THE RISING SUN SERIES ~ OPENING UP TO THE WORLD {1854-1894} (PowerPoint)
To start, you'll gain an understanding of the incredibly rapid modernization of Japan from ancient anarchy to Asian power.
Part 2 THE RISING SUN SERIES ~ ASCENDING OVER ASIA {1894-1904} (PowerPoint)
Next, you'll grasp how Japan's relationship with China and Korea evolved through commerce and the first Sino-Japanese war, with subsequent humiliation by the Europeans.
Part 3 THE RISING SUN SERIES ~ TAKING ON EUROPE {1904-1905} (PowerPoint)
A crucial time was during the Russo-Japanese War, when Japan becomes a world power, which changed American & world history.
Part 4 THE RISING SUN SERIES ~ JAPAN JOINS THE ALLIES IN WORLD WAR I {1914-1920} (PowerPoint)
All is brought together with this eye-opening story of how Japan aided the Allied effort in the Pacific and the Mediterranean, became a global power to be reckoned with, and came to possess large archipelagos in the central Pacific 20 years before World War II.
HISTORY WITHIN THE VAST PACIFIC OCEAN AREA
PACIFIC TREASURES {1560-1800} (PowerPoint)
History holds this mighty tale of the great Spanish treasure armadas which crossed the Pacific for 300 years, battling odds to bring the riches of the East to Spain.
OCEAN RAIDERS OF THE PACIFIC {1580-1915} (PowerPoint)
300 years of English, German and Confederate sailors collectively caused mayhem in the largest ocean on earth.
BLACKBIRDING {1855-1910} (PowerPoint)
Learn from this eye-opening saga of legalized slavery of Pacific natives by scoundrels, and the heroes who tried to stop it.
GERMANY’S PACIFIC EMPIRE ~ THEIR PLACE IN THE SUN {1870-1918} (PowerPoint)
Here's a truly fascinating story of Germany’s colonial expansions across the central Pacific Ocean.
THE THREADS OF CIVILIZATION (PowerPoint)
The Trans-Pacific Telegraph Cable and its Modern Descendants: Learn how this new technology changed everything and everyone in the Pacific in the latter 19th century, and how different cables still crisscross this ocean.
GENTLEMEN WARRIORS {1914-1916} (PowerPoint)
Determined admirals & incredible fleet actions by Imperial Germany and Allied Forces in the Pacific in World War I are thrilling highlights!
BATTLE OF PAPEETE {1914} (PowerPoint)
Be astounded by this story of an unlikely French hero who defended Papeete, Tahiti against an entire German Squadron in World War I.
THE SEA DEVIL {1916} (PowerPoint)
How did a daredevil sailor hood-wink the Kiwis yet become a famous ocean raider in the Pacific, beloved by even his enemies, and kindly regarded as ‘gentleman foe’?
PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND THE LEGEND OF SADIE THOMPSON (PowerPoint)
Was she a saint or a sinner? Hear the real story about one of the most notorious women of the Pacific and the most beloved U.S. Navy liberty port, and the ensuing literary and cinematic depictions of both {1916-1955}.
PEARL HARBOR {1830-1941} (PowerPoint)
Transformed from a shallow Polynesian lagoon to the largest military base in the Pacific, learn more about the full story of Pearl Harbor beyond what happened there on December 7, 1941.
BRAVERY, TREACHERY & ARMAGEDDON {1856-1980} (PowerPoint)
Get ready for an eye-opening look at America’s Pacific territories, some of which harbor dark secrets to this day.
POLYNESIAN HISTORY
FOLLOWING THE SONGS (PowerPoint)
Polynesian Navigation Across the Pacific: how Polynesian navigators have sailed thousands of miles for thousands of years across the Pacific with incredible accuracy but without modern instruments
WAR SCARE IN SAMOA (PowerPoint)
The 1889 confrontation between Germany and the U.S. in the Pacific was not well represented in history, but it helped establish an American-British bond.
THE LAST TO SUCCUMB {1880-1893} (PowerPoint)
A detailed and astute look into the end of the Samoan and Hawaiian Kingdoms of Polynesia.
THE MERRIE MONARCH (PowerPoint)
Enjoy the wonderful legacy of Hawaii’s King David Kalākaua and the Hawaiian renaissance from the 1870s to the 1890s.
KING KALĀKAUA’S DREAM (PowerPoint)
The Pan-Pacific Polynesian Confederation to Ensure Independence {1888}: let’s understand how this dream was finally embraced; who were the German, British, and American opponents; and the outcome from then until now.
IOLANI PALACE (PowerPoint)
The only Royal Palace in the United States: A captivating look at King David Kalākaua's beautiful 1880s palace in Honolulu, from the past to the present.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON’S DREAM HOME (PowerPoint)
Vailima in Samoa: The famous author’s life and home in the South Pacific, which you too can visit!
HONOR SERIES NOVELS
THE STORY BEHIND CODE OF HONOR (PowerPoint)
The story behind the epic 16th novel in Macomber’s Honor Series depicts the causes, personalities, and legacy of the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War, which changed America and the world to this very day.
THE STORY BEHIND FULL NAVAL HONORS
Hear from the multi-award winning author himself how he planned & crafted the finale to his 17 book Honor Series. This was a lifetime achievement which spanned a quarter of a century!
WRITING FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT
GETTING INTO CHARACTER (PowerPoint)
Hear lighthearted, personal tales of researching and writing novels around the world.
RESEARCHING AROUND THE WORLD (PowerPoint)
In addition to seeking facts for your writing project, location research can provide the crucial flavor for your project.
ENJOY THE RIDE (PowerPoint)
Making connections, spreading the word & keeping fans engaged while having fun is key, but included are tips for being innovative with ideas to enhance your writing journey.
WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNING WRITERS ~ PLANNING YOUR WRITING CAREER
Tips on planning, organizing, and starting your literary work.
WORKSHOP ~ MEMOIRS MADE EASIER
Write the story of your life ...