There are a lot of “what ifs” in history. What would have happened if the United Kingdom had signed an armistice with Hitler in the spring of 1940? What if the United States had decided not to intervene in the World Wars?

On Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m., Dr. Kirtland Mead will look at some of those questions and speculate about how the world would be different if some major events had never occurred.

He will also identify that short list of leaders who stood at key inflection points of history and really did determine important outcomes. Dr. Mead is an international management consultant, researcher and executive educator, who has lectured before for the Sippican Historical Society and Elizabeth Taber Library on a variety of international historical topics.

The presentation, which is sponsored by the Sippican Historical Society, is offered free of charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. No reservations are necessary. The Marion Music Hall is located at 164 Front St. Parking is available across the street at Island Wharf. For more information, call the Historical Society at 508-748-1116.