The Society for Nautical Research is a British society that conducts research and sponsors projects related to maritime history worldwide. Founded in 1910, the Society initially encouraged research into seafaring, ship-building, the language and customs of the sea, and other items of nautical interest. The Chairman of the Society is Dr David Davies MA DPhil FRHistS FSNR. Past chairmen include Alan Villiers, Professor Michael Lloyd, Professor Richard Harding and the immediate past chairman, Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton. Past projects HMS Victory preservation In 1922 the Society initiated a public appeal in the United Kingdom to raise funds to save Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship HMS Victory. Launched in 1765, the ship was in very poor condition by 1922. Sir James Caird, and the Save The Victory Fund raised sufficient funds to secure HMS Victory in dry dock in Portsmouth and provide a permanent endowment for the ship. The Society established The Victory Technical Committee to research preservation measures for the Victory and to conserved its artifacts in the new Victory Museum. In 1972, the Victory Museum expanded to become the Portsmouth Royal Naval Museum, under Admiralty administration. It later became the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. The Society still supports HMS Victory by funding research into areas such as paint samples and wood marks. Since 1922 the Society has provided over £1 million to the ship's upkeep. The National Maritime Museum In 1913 the Society helped reorganise and rationalise the collection of the Royal Naval Museum in the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. During World War I, the collection was dispersed for safekeeping. In 1924 the Society catalogued and inventoried the collections. In 1925 during a meeting of the Society's Council, the concept of a National Maritime Museum was raised for the first time. The task of setting up a permanent home for the Admiralty's collection of ship models was given to a new Trust. In 1927 the Admiralty made an official announcement: It having become necessary for a body of trustees to be appointed to take charge of the interests and property of the National Naval and Nautical Museum which is eventually to be accommodated in the Queen's House at Greenwich, The First Lord of the Admiralty has obtained consent of the following, Earl Stanhope DSO, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Sir George P.W. Hope, Chairman of the Council of the Society for Nautical Research, Sir Lionel Earle