Charles Middleton was one of the most interesting, influential and unlikeable characters in the British naval history. As Controller of the Navy 1778-1790, a member of the Admiralty Board 1794-95, and First Lord 1805-06, as well as the confidential naval adviser of several prime ministers, he played a decisive part in reform and centralization of naval administration over thirty years, and was finally (at the age of eighty) responsible for guiding the Trafalgar campaign.
Much of this volume deals not with naval administration, but with correspondence from his seagoing friends (notably Sir Samuel Hood and Captain Walter Young) relating the course of the American war at sea.
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Names marked with * are in the Dictionary of National Biography. AFFLECK *AFFLECK, Philip, captain, 371, 382 *Affleck, Sir Edmund, commodore, 79, 136, 141, 143-4, I53> 175, 181, 201, 265 Affleck, William, captain, xlv Agnew, John, army chaplain, taken prisoner by the French, 401, 403 Agnew, Stair, captain in the army, taken prisoner by the French, 401, 403 Allegre, J. G., member of the assembly of Barbados, 23 Alleyne, Mr., 23-4 *Anson, Lord, admiral, 22, 318 Appleby, Robert Taylor, lieutenant, court-martial on, 101, 371-82 April 12th. See Dominica April 17th. See Martinique *Arbuthnot, Marriott, admiral, liv-lv, Ivii, 80-4, 120, 123 Architecture, naval, mathematical knowledge needed for, 325 Armstrong, Mr., 46 Artificers, great want of, 184; diligence of, 189-90; extra pay to, 197 Atkinson, Mr., 51, 81 BAKER, Joseph, deposition of, 188 Balfour, George, captain, 100, 101,285,371 BOMPAR *Ball, Alexander John, captain, 207 Barbados, the council and merchants of, complaint of, 20-3 Barbor, Robert, captain, sudden death of, 190 n. Barker, Scorey, lieutenant, 378 Barras [de Saint – Laurent], Comte, chef d’escadre, Ivii, lix, 120-1, 123, 130 Barrington, Major – General, takes Guadeloupe, 9 n. ‘•’Barrington, the Hon. Samuel, admiral, xxxiii, xxxvi, xxxviii, xliii, 47, 196, 327; refuses the command of the Channel fleet, 367-9. Letter from, 366 Bateman, Nathaniel, captain, xlv, xlviii, xlix, 55, 71-2, 79, 101 ; court-martial on, 382-98 *Bayne, William, captain, death of, 276 Bazely, John, captain, xlv, 107 Bellecombe, French general, governor of Hispaniola, 255. Letter from, 258-9 Bellecombe, Madame, 256 Benton, Martin, midshipman, .392 Bignal, Samuel, lieutenant, 377-8 Blair, George, captain in the army, 403 *Blane, [Sir] Gilbert, physician to the fleet, 1-liii, 48, 177, 402 Bompar, M. de, French admiral, 21-2. 26 4o8 THE BARHAM PAPERS BONET Bonet, D. Juan Bautista, Spanish admiral, Governor of the Havana, 222 n. *Boscawen, the Hon. Edward, admiral, xiv, xv, 16 Boteler, Sir Philip, of Barham Court, xxiv-xxv Bougainville, French admiral, 117 n. Bouilld, Marquis de, French general, xliv, 90, 94, 139 ; at St. Kitts, 145-6 ; at Fort Royal, 155 ; sails for France, 193 ; troops under, expected at Cape Frangais, 234-5 Bourdonnais, M. de la, his signals, xxxvi, 343-5 Bouverie, Elizabeth, her friendship with the Middletons, xxiv, 105 ; her family, xxiv n. ; her will, xxiv-v Bowen, George, captain, xlv, 115 n. *Bowen, James, master, 115 n. Bowen, Richard, captain, killed at Teneriffe, 115 n. *Bowyer, [Sir] George, captain, xlv, 71 Braithwaite, Richard, captain, xlv Bread, want of, 131, 136, 141-2, 146-7, 246 Bright, Edward, surgeon, 383 *-Brisbane, Charles, rear-admiral, 70 Brisbane, John, captain, 70, 79, 37i Brown, John, boatswain, 377 Brown, Robert, deposition of, 188 Bryne, Henry, captain, xlv ; his evidence at the Montagu courtmartial, 372-8 Buckle, Matthew, captain, x Burlton, George, lieutenant, 391 Burnett, Thomas, captain, 165 Burnett, Tristram, master, 391 Burr, John Davall, lieutenant, IX 5 Butler, Thomas, captain, 284 COCHRANE Byron, George, captain, 160 ::Byron, the Hon. John, viceadmiral, xxvii-viii, xxxviii, xliii, 47-8 CADOGAN, Thomas, captain, goes to the Cape, 180-1 ; report by, 184-5 Campbell, Archibald, majorgeneral, governor of Jamaica, 221, 225-6, 235. Letter to, 226 Campbell, James, captain, xiv Captain, of the fleet, duties of, 320-2 *Carkett, Robert, captain, xlv, xlviii, 101, 104 :;:Carleton, Sir Guy [afterwards Lord Dorchester], 220-1, 228, 237. Letters from, 225-7 Carpenter, general, 285 Carr, Mrs., 285 Carronades, opinion of, 67 ; sufficient trials should be made of, 316-17 ; size, 363-5 Casks, water, want of, 181, 246 Caulkers, need of, 138 Chabert [-Cogolin], Marquis de, French captain, 117 n. Charitte, Comte de, 187 ;/. Chartres, Due de, xxix Chatham, Earl of, first lord of the admiralty, xx Chesapeake, action off the mouth of the, 5th September, 1781, lix, Ix, 125, 129, 133—see Graves, Thomas Chocolate, issue of, desirable, 75 *”Christian, Hugh C., captain, 139, 147, 214 :::Clinton, Sir Henry, general, Ivi, Ivii, lix, 73, 120 Clocheterie, Chadeau de la, Chev. de Saint Louis, French captain, xxxix, 183 n. Coatles, Chev. de?> French lieutenant, 183 ;/. *Cochrane, the Hon. Alexander, lieutenant, 378 INDEX 409 COLE Cole, Mr., his chains for pumps, 60; his pumps and chains condemned, 67 -Collier, Sir George, captain, 212 ;/. Collingwood, Thomas, commodore, xlv, xlviii, 56, 397 Colvill, the Hon. John, acting lieutenant of Terrible, 88, 97, 285-6 and n. Colvill, Lord, 88, 97, 285 Compass, water, note on, 341-2 Conflans [-Brienne], Comte de, vice-amiral, marechal de France, 26 Convoy, service in the Channel, xii ; French, due at Cap Frangais, xliv; method of, in the W. Indies, 15, 30, 36; capture of Dutch, 92 ; French, expected at Martinique, 94 ; Dutch, from Curagao, 185 ; of transports, 213, 244, 249 Coppering, advantages of, 66-7 ; unfit for convoys, 82 Cordage, very bad, 354; suggested improvements in, 355 Cordova, D. Luis de, Spanish admiral, 242, 292 Cornewall, Thomas, captain. Letter from, 367-70 -Cornish, Samuel, vice-admiral, Middleton’s brother – in – law, xxiii Cornish, Samuel Pitchford, captain, Middleton’s nephew by marriage, xxiii, 148, 284 “-Cornwallis, Lord, Ivii, Iviii, Ix, 84, 133, 134 “Cornwallis, the Hon. William, captain, 53 n. ; on I2th April, 143 -Cotton, Charles, captain, xlv, 2 55 Couchman, Samuel, lieutenant and mutineer, xiii Courts-martial, on the mutineers of the Chesterfield, xiii ; on Captain Dudley, xiii; on Captain Watkins, xvi ; on Admiral Keppel, xxviii, 290, 299; on DIGBY I Sir Hugh Palliser, xxviii, 267, i 290, 299 ; on Captain Bate- | man, 79, 101 ?/., 382 seq. ; on j Lieutenant Appleby, 101 «., i 371 seq. ; on Captain E. | Thompson, 128 n. ; on Capj tain Coffin, 286 n. ; inconvenience of regulations for, 300 ; on the mutineers of the Queen, 305 n. Cramond, John, 401 ; deposition of, 403-4 Creak, Ettrick, captain, on water compasses, 342 n. Crespin, Abraham, captain, xlv Cruizers, stationing of, in W. Indies, 2-6, 10-16, 19, 22, 29, 33> .35 ; success of, 79 ; bad sailing of, 302; sailing two together recommended, ib. and n. Cull, Benjamin, lieutenant, 377 Cunningham, Captain, 284 Cunningham, General, 149 Curagao, should have been taken, 98 ; in great want of provisions, 188 ; Rodney expected at, ib. Curgenven, Richard, captain, 131, 150, 166-7,334 DALRYMPLE, John, captain, 270 -Darby, George, vice-admiral, xxxvi, 288, 332, 341 Dead reckoning, uncertainty of, 9*. Delanoe, George Augustus, lieutenant, in command of the Active brig, 120; captured, | 121 ‘ Denny, J., member of the asj sembly of Barbados, 23 ; Dickson, William, captain, xlv *Digby, Robert, rear – admiral, 126; information concerning French fleet, 223-4, 227-30, 232,239, 328,402 ; letters from, 223-4, 400-1, 401-2 ; letters tO, 126, 128, 220 4io THE BARHAM PAPERS DISCIPLINE Discipline, want|of, in the fleet, 95, 299-313 Dixon, Charles, captain, 131 *Domett, William, captain, Hood’s signal officer, 167 Dominica, battle of, Ixi, 159-74, 177-9, 182-3, 186-8, 193, 206-7, 278-84 Douglas, Andrew S., captain, 382 Douglas, James, captain, 70, 84, 89 Douglas, John, captain, xlv Douglas, Lady, 268 *Douglas, Sir Charles, captain, xxviii, xxxviii, Ixi, 150, 159, 162, 263 »., 323 ; Hood’s opinion of, 163-4, 179-80 ; a good linguist, 179 n. ; his improvements in gun-fittings, 267-74 j and in gunnery, 284 ; his account of Dominica, 275-85 ; letters from, 267-87 *Douglas, Sir Howard, on breaking the line, 263 ^Douglas, Sir James, Commodore, xvii, 8 ; letter to, 27 seq. Douglas, Stair, captain, 110 n. Douglas, William Henry, captain, 150,221,232,^234, 238-9 Dowling, John, deposition of, 187 *Drake, Sir Francis S., commodore (afterwards rear-admiral), xxxviii, 90, 92-3, 105, 108, 110, 112, 116, 118, 119, 125, 142, 154, 156-7, 159 n., 160 n., 175, 194, 197-8, 201, 263-5, 278-9, 371 Dudley, O’Bnen, captain, x; court-martial on, xiii Duff, George, lieutenant [captain of the Mars at Trafalgar: killed], 378 Dundas, family of, viii-ix EDWARDS, Gerard Noel, Middleton’s son-in-law, xxv, 97 ^., 166, 285 Edwards, Mrs., 129, 166, 285— see Middleton, Diana FRERE Edwards, Timothy, captain, xlv Eguille, Chev. Froger de T, 182 n. *Elliot, John, captain, 341 *Elphinston, John, captain, xlv *Elphinstone, George Keith, captain [afterwards Lord Keith], 400-1 Ensign, red, to be worn in action, 77 and n. Entrecasteaux, M. d’, French captain, xxxv Espinouse, Chev. de 1′, chef d’escadre, 191 Estaing, Comte d’, French admiral, xxvii, xxviii, xxxii, xxxviii, xxxix, Iviii, 270 FANSHAWE, Robert, captain, 37i Ferguson, James, captain, xlv, 53 «-i 37i, 39i *Ferguson, Patrick, lieutenantcolonel, defeat and death of, 84 Fidge, Mr., surgeon, 48 Finch, the Hon. Seymour, captain, 109-10, 112, 115 Fireships, on the use of, 296-7 Flags, French squadronal, 101-2 n. ; number of, required for signalling, 301 ; English squadronal, 324 and n.—see Ensigns, Signals Fleet, list of French on I7th April, 1780, xlvi ; combined, in Fort Royal Bay, 63, 68 ; winter cruizing dangerous to, 303-4 ; method of dividing, 323-4 Fooks, William, captain, xlv, 37i, 39i Ford, John, captain, 153 Forster, William, lieutenant, xii *Fox, Charles James, M.P. for Westminster, 249, 251 *Frankland, Thomas, rear-admiral, xvi Fraser, General, 145, 149 Frere, Mr., member of the council of Barbados, 23 INDEX 411 GALVEZ GALVEZ,D. Bernardo de, Spanish major-general, 193, 203, 222, 255, 258. Letter from, 257 Gdlvez, Madame, 256 Gambier, family of, xxiii -Gambier, James (i), admiral, Middleton’s brother – in – law, xxiii, 151 -Gambier, James (2) [afterwards Lord], captain, Middleton’s nephew, xxiii, 93, 96 Gambier, Margaret, xxiii-xxiv— see Middleton, Mrs. Gambier, Mrs. James, 151 Ganteaume, French admiral, xxxi -Gardner, Alan [afterwards Lord], captain, 284 “-Gascoyne, Bamber, 365 and n. Gauvel, M., merchant, letter to, 167-8 -Geary, (Sir) Francis, admiral, xxxiv, 288,328-9,331-2, 366-9 Geary, William, son of the admiral, 367-8 Geddes, Alexander, captain, x -Germain, Lord George, secretary of state for war, 52 Gibbons, or Gibbes, Barbados’ agent, 23 -4 Gibraltar, relief of, xxxiii ; repulse of attack on, 234-5 Gidoin, John Lewis, captain, 129, 371, 382 Gordon, William, captain, x Grant, William, boatswain’s mate, 377 Grasse, Comte de, chef d’escadre; afterwards lieutenantgeneral and commander-inchief in the W. Indies, xxxiii, xxxix, liii, Ivi-lx, 101 72., io6#., 134,247, 359 ; arrives at Martinique and engages the English squadron off Fort Royal, 108-117, 130; expected on the coast of N. America, 121-2 ; action off the Chesapeake, 125-6, 212; at St. Kitts, 139, 141-7 ; his successor reported, 150; at Fort HAWKE Royal, 155-8; on 12 April, 159-161, 169, 178-9, 182-3 »., 276-81 — sec Chesapeake, Dominica -Graves, Thomas [afterwards Lord], rear-admiral, Ivi, Ivii, lix, Ix, 73, 124-5, 189, 205-6, 326 ; his conduct on 5th September criticized, 129 – 30, 133-4 5 sails f°r England without his orders, 202-3. Letters to, 121, 124 ; letters from, 120-1 ; memo, by, 127 Gray, Mr., 96 Green, Mr., Arbuthnot’s secretary, alleged villainy of, Iv, 81, 83-4 Guichen, Comte de, French admiral, xxxv, xxxix, xl, xliii, xliv, xlvii, liii, Ivi ; disposition of his squadron, 68; outmanoeuvred, 357 ; reports of prisoners about, 359 — see Martinique Gunnery, suggested improvements in, 317-20—see Douglas, Sir Charles HAGER, Jacob, quartermaster, 377 Hall, Mr., master, 391 Hamar, Joseph, captain, x Hankey, James, midshipman, 392 -Hardy, Sir Charles (2), admiral, commander – in – chief in the Channel, xxxii, xxxiii, 288, 292, 298, 323 ; character of, 293-5 j *Harland, Sir Robert, viceadmiral, xxxvi, 194, 304 I Harmood, Harry, captain, xlv j Harrison, John, deputy judgeadvocate, 398 Harvey (?-Henry), captain, 137 Harvey, William, deposition of, 186-7 -Hawke, Sir Edward, afterwards Lord, admiral, xxxii, 26, 271 n. y 329. Letter from, 330 412 THE BARHAM PAPERS HAWKINS Hawkins, James, captain, 399 Hay, John, gunner, deposition of, 185-6 Hocquart, French captain, taken prisoner for the third time, xv Holland, George, lieutenant of marines, 377-8 Holloway, John, captain, xlv :;: Holmes, Charles, captain, x Home, Sir George, captain, xlv Hood, Alexander [Viscount Bridport], admiral, 167, 218 n. :J; Hood, Sir Samuel, afterwards Lord, rear – admiral, xxxii, xxxviii, xl, xli, Iv, Ivi, lix-lxiii, 98, 263, 265, 275-6, 280, 282, 334, 399, 405-6 ; blockades Fort Royal, 93-4 ; engagement with De Grasse, 108-16 ; goes to N. America, 122-3; on the fight off the Chesapeake, 125 ; proposes to share prize money with Digby, 126 ; endeavours to defend St. Kitts, 139 seq. ; jockeys De Grasse out of his position, 143 ; and is attacked by him in it, 144; communication with Brimstone Hill is cut off, 146; commands a squadron to windward of Martinique, 148 ; disapproves of Rodney’s strategy, 151-7 ; account of battle of 12th April, 159 ; comments on, 161-6, 177 ; opinion of the captain of the fleet, 179-80 ; charged with refitting the fleet, 184, 189; chief command not desirable, 195 ; laid up with a broken shin, 199 ; which excuses him from attending a grand dinner, ib. ; speculates on the movements of the allies, 203-9 ; suggests a disposition of the fleet, 215-16; is on cordial terms with Pigot, 219 ; weakly state j of his squadron, 229 ; takes up a station off Old Cape, 230; his orders to cruizers, 235-7 ; gloomy forebodings, JAMAICA 243-4 ; does not wish to enter parliament, 249-51 ; has news of the peace, 255 ; letters from, 108-262; letters to, 121, 133, 139-40, 217-18, 223-4, 258-9 Hoste, Pere, an authority on naval tactics, 313 *Hotham, William [afterwards Lord], commodore, xlv, liv, 59, 69, 79, 84, 90 Houlton, John, captain, xlv, 372-3, 375) 379-8i Howard, J., deputy judge advocate, 382 Howe, Lord, admiral, xix, xxxvi, xxxviii, xlix, 218, 241-2, 260, 270, 287, 292, 302, 341 Howe, Tyringham, captain, nephew of Philip “^Stephens, 84 Hudson, John, boatswain, 378 *Hughes, Sir Richard, admiral, 247, 286 Hulke, B., captain, 221 Humphrys, James M., master, 392, 396 Hunt, Joseph, secretary to Lord Hood, 122 ; letters from, 122, 148 Husband, member of the council of Barbados, 23 IGGULDEN, MR., 390 -Inglefield, John N., captain, gallant behaviour of, 176-7 -;: Inglis, Charles (i), captain, 130 Innes, master-builder at Port Royal, 198 JACKSON, Lieutenant, 378 ^Jackson, [Sir] George [afterwards Duckett], second secretary ofthe admiralty, Ivi; frequently mentioned in the references for Hood’s letters Jamaica, value of, 156; attack on, apprehended, 157-8,220-1, 225-8, 232-4; a vile place, 190 INDEX 4*3 JAMES James, Daniel, gunner, 391 Jones, Francis, shipbuilder at Barbados, 33 Jull, Robert (i), master, 391 Jull, Robert (2), his servant, ib. *KEMPENFELT, Richard, captain, afterwards rear-admiral, xix, xxix, xxxiii-xxxvii, xl, 141, 146, 286, 369; his signals, 75-6,30i>3i3-i5,335,337-5o; advantage of firing at the rigging, 290-1 ; his estimate of the commander-in-chief, 293-5, 297-8 ; on ignorance of naval tactics, 295 ; on the bad discipline in the fleet, 299-313 ; on construction of guns, 317-20 ; duties of a first captain, 320-2 ; on the importance of mathematics, 325; commands a squadron, 351 ; his force insufficient, 352 ; wants frigates, ib. ; desires explicit orders, 353 ; cuts off a French convoy, 356-7 ; returns to Spithead, 358-9; on the disposition of naval force, 361-2; on the mounting of carronades, 363-5. Letters from, 288-365 Kempthorne, James, captain, 233 Kent, William, clerk, 392 *Keppel, Augustus, afterwards Lord, admiral, xxvii, xxviii, xxxii, xxxvi, 190, 194-5, 218, 290,299,311 Knight, John, captain, 200 Knight, Mr., 96 LA MOTTE-PICQUET, French admiral, xxxv *Laforey, [Sir] John, commissioner, 195, 215, 232 Langara, D. Juan de, Spanish admiral, xliii Langridge, use of, approved, 291,297 j another estimate of, 291 n. MEAD Lauderdale, Charles, Earl of, 100 n. Lauzun, Due de, 400 LeCras, Edward, commissioner, 51 Legge, Mr., 229 Leslie, Lieutenant-General, his expedition up the Nansemond River, 83 ; in command at Charleston, 225.. Letter to, 225 Leslie, Patrick, captain, 200 Lewis, John Carteret, master, 391 ; his evidence at the Yarmouth court-martial, 392 *Ligonier, Lord, 24 Linzee, John, captain, 94 ;/., 183 Linzee, Mrs. Robert, 119 Linzee, Robert, captain, 119 n. Lloyd, Howell, captain, 382 Lockhart, William, captain, 46 -Loughborough, Lord, 285 McGEACHEN, Alexander, master, 377-8 Madgshon, John, master of the Victory, 335 Maitland, Hon. Frederick, captain, xlv, li ;’ ugly rumours about, 71 ; he refutes the charges, xlv, 100-4. Letters from, 100-107 Maitland, Mrs., 104 Man, Robert, captain, x, xiv -Manners, Robert, Lord, 144,382 -Mansfield, Lord, 285 Marin, Comte de, chef d’escadre, 116-17 Martin, Roger, captain, x Martinique, battle of, 17th April, 1780, xliv-liii, 52-5, 71, 100-7, 371-98 ; rencounters to windward of, 16th, 19th May, 1780, liii, 57-9 ; off Fort Royal, 28th, 29th April, 1781, 108-17 Mathews, D., mayor of New York, 404 -Mathews, Thomas, admiral, 271 Matthew, General, 150 Maxwell, Major, 208 Mead, Samuel, captain, x, xxiii 414 THE BARHAM PAPERS MEDICINE Medicine, should be supplied, 48 n. Mellows, B., member of the assembly of Barbados, 23 *Melville, Lord, first lord of the admiralty, xx Merrick, William Augustus, captain, 196-7, 207, 255, 258; report by, 191 seq. Middleton, Diana, Middleton’s daughter, 68; marriage of, xxv, 97, 105—see Edwards Middleton, Mrs., afterwards Lady, xxv ; ‘ compliments’ or ‘remembrances’ to^freq. Middleton, Sir Charles [afterwards Lord Barham], birth and parentage, viii; family of, viii-ix ; early service, ix, xi ; table of service, x ; lieutenant of Chesterfield and experience of mutiny, xii-xiv ; lieutenant of Anson off the St. Laurence in ’55, xiv, xv ; and in the W. Indies in ’56, xv, xvi ; commander and captain in the W. Indies, xvi, xvii ; blockading service on coast of France, xvii, xviii ; home ports and Channel, xviii, xix; comptroller, xix; baronet, ib. ; at admiralty, xx; first lord and peer, ib. ; his death, ib. ; his marriage, xxiii; inherits the Teston estate, xxiv; letters to W. Pringle, 1-20 ; Sir James Douglas, 27 ; to Sir Samuel Hood, 133 ; order-book in the Ardent, 39 Miles, Mr., agent victualler, 93 *Miller, Patrick, supposed inventor of carronades, 364-5 Mitchell, Hugh, deposition of, 187-8 Molloy, Arthur J. Pye, captain, xlv, xlix, 371 ^Montagu, George, captain, 383 Monteclerc, Comte de, French captain, 185 n. Monteil, Baron de,chef d’escadre, xlvi, liii PAGETT *Moore, John, commodore, takes Guadeloupe, 9, 22 n. ; blockades St. Eustatius, 16 n. ; complaint against, 20-6 *Moutray, John, captain, 331 Muir, Mr., 51, 81 *Mulgrave, Lord, captain, 327 Musgrave, Colonel, 211 -NELSON, Horatio [afterwards Lord], captain, 1, li, 399 ; unrecorded service of, 405-6 Newnham, Thomas, captain, xlv Nicholson, Mr., 352 Noel, Sir Gerard—see Edwards -North, Lord, 285, 368 Nott, John N. P., captain, 115, OATMEAL, unsuited for the W. Indies, 75, 87 Officers, sea, should be acquainted with military art, 307 Ogilvie, David, master, 378 ;:Ogle, Sir Chaloner (i), captain, xiii Ogle, Sir Chaloner (2), nephew of (i), commodore, 382-3 Orders, captain’s, 39-45 ; drunkenness, punishment for, 40-1, 45 ; swearing to be punished, 40-1 ; hair, men to wear their own, 40 ; slops, list of, 39 ; not to be sold, 43 ; prices to be reasonable, ib. ; bags for the seamen’s clothes, 42 ; clothes, fancy colours prohibited, 43; uniformity for boats’ crews, 43 ; guns, frequent exercise of, 43 ; charges of, 44 Orvilliers, Comte d’, French admiral, xxix, 101 #., 292, 301 Osborne, James, deposition of, 188 PAGETT, William, deputy judgeadvocate, 382-3 INDEX PALLISER *Palliser, Sir Hugh, vice-admiral, court-martial on, xxviii, 267, 290; alleged collusion with contractors, 82, 96 ; promoted to Greenwich Hospital, 367 Parker, James, captain in the army, taken prisoner by the French, 403 *Parker, [Sir] Hyde (i), [vice-] admiral, xliii, xlv, xlviii, 47, 57-8, 62, 69, 71, 89, 100 n.9 101-4 *Parker, Sir Peter, admiral, liv, 94, 129, 183-4 Parry, Francis, captain, orders to, 237, 240; mistaken report of, 244, 249 *Pasley, [Sir] Thomas, captain, 201, 242 Paterson, Walter, governor of St. John’s Island, 51 ; alleged fraudulent conduct of, 52 Patterson, Mr., is not qualified for lieutenant, 132, 135 *Patton, Philip, captain, 268, 270 Paul, Anthony, clerk, 378 *Payne, John W., captain, 201 Pearson, Martin, purser, 68, 84 Pender, Francis, captain, 390 Pickering, Joseph, agent for Barbados. Letter to, 20 ; letter from, 23 ^Pigot, Hugh, admiral, xxxiii, xxxvi, xxxviii, Ixii, Ixiii, 194, 197, 201-8, 213-14, 218-19, 227-8, 230-1, 238-9, 241-2, 247-8, 253, 260-1, 285-6. Letters to, 215, 220, 232 ; letter from, 217 Pinfold, Governor, 7 Pinkerton, Matthew, seaman, 392 *Pitt, William (i) (Earl of Chatham), 22-5 ‘ *Pitt, William (2), vii, xx, xxiii Place, John, carpenter’s mate, xiii Plowden, James C., lieutenant, killed in action, 115 *Pocock, Sir George, admiral, 17 RODNEY Pollard, Joseph, master’s mate, 392 Portsmouth, proposed docks at, 289-90 -Prescott, Robert, major-general, 138 »., 139, 145-7. Letter to, 138 ; letter from, 139 Pringle, Mrs., 7-8, 18, 20 Pringle, Thomas, admiral, 2 n. Pringle, Walter, merchant, xvii, i n. y 27. Letters to, 1-20 Prisoners, exchange of, 180; reports of released, 182 ; depositions of, 185 seg. Prize-money, detrimental to the public service, liv, Iv, 126, 129, 230-1, 261 Provisions, waste of, 74-5 ; proposed changes in the scale of, 75 ; improper storing of, 88 -;’Pye, Sir Thomas, admiral, 352 *RAMSAY, Rev. James, 46 ;/., 86-7, 89, 103-4. Letter from, 46 *Ramsden, Jesse, instrument maker, 337, 341 Religion, necessary to preserve morals, 308-9 Reynolds, Francis [afterwards Lord Ducie], captain, 92 Reynolds, Mrs.. 92 Richards, Robert, purser, appointed to the Suffolk, 88 Rions, Comte d’Albert de, 185^. *Roberts, Bartholomew, pirate, xiii Robertson, general, 401 *Robins, Benjamin, his proposed improvements in the form of guns, 317-20 Robinson, Hugh, captain, 382 Robinson, John, captain, 382 Robinson, Mark, captain, 112, 371 Rochambeau, Comte de, French general, Ivii-lix *Rodney, Sir George Brydges, afterwards Lord, admiral, commander-in-chief at Ja- 416 THE BARHAM PAPERS ROUS maica, 53 #., at the Leeward Islands, ib. ; ill in bed during the battle off C. St. Vincent, 65 ; confused orders of, 69 ; pays little attention to signalling, ib. ; his vacillation and indecision, 93 ;/. i, 156-7 ; loss of Tobago, 98-9, 117-9; expected return of, 141, 147 ; fails to intercept the French reinforcements, 152-6 ; I2th April, 159-62, 206-7 ; requires a monitor, 163-5 i neglect to crush the beaten enemy, 177 ; choice of first captain, 179-80 ; illness of, 184, 189 ; declines all business, 194, 197 ; superseded, 201 ; general order, 265-6 ; mentioned or referred to, $3-201 passim. Letters to, 109, 120, 135 ; letters from, 158-9, 263 Rous, member of the council of Barbados, 23 Rouvray, Marquis de, 259 Rowland, Robert, quartermaster, 392 *Rowley, Joshua, rear-admiral, xlv, Iv, 47-8, 58, 69, 100, 189, 194, 223, 235, 241, 244, 253, 261-2, 406. Letters to, 221, 230, 237 ; letters from, 220, 233 Rudders, fitting of, 334-5 ST. EUSTATIUS, French supplied from, liii ; capture of, 91-2 ; much booty, 93 ; merchants ruined, 95 ; immense quantity of naval stores, 97 ; unnecessary delay in the attack, 98 ; captured by the French, 129, 149 ; 1,000 wounded French sent to, 144 ; no longer a ‘mere nourriciere,’ 149 St. John, Henry, captain, xlv St. Martin, capture of, 92 St. Vincent, battle of Cape, i6th January, 1780, xli-xliii, 65-8 St. Vincent, island, expedition against, 89-91 SHIPS ] Salem, an opprobrious epithet, 93 I Salter, Elliot, captain, 231 i ^Sandwich, Earl of, first lord of | the admiralty, xxxv, xxxvi, 64, ; 94, 105, 133,285,332-3,351-3, ! 361, 367 | *Saumarez, James [afterwards, Lord de], captain, 146, 184 *Saunders, Sir Charles, admiral, i 179 «- I Savage, Henry, captain, 68; commander of Rover sloop, captured 13th September 1780, 88; his plan for watering ships, 151 . #Saxton, [Sir] Charles, captain, 138 Schooners, hire of, 137 Scout, curious use of word, 58 n. Seagrove, James, agent at the ! Havana for American privateers, 204 , Seamanship, excellence of I French, xl, 311 | September 5th. See Chesapeake | *Shelburne, Lord, 260 j Ships, classed by pairs, 87 ; one ! hundred sail captured at St. ! Eustatius, 91 ; improper purchase of, 132 ; relative merits of ships of one or two decks, ‘ 335-6 ; disposition of, 36ir2 : Ships : Actason, 190, 237-8, 240, 244, ; 248-9 Active, brig, 120; captured, ; 121 Active, frigate, 363 i Adamant, 81, 123-4, 130 | Adventure, x, xvii, xviii jEolus, transport, 51 ^Etna, 78 Agamemnon, 277 Aigle, Fr., capture of, 210, 213, 399-405 Aimable, Fr., 282 Ajax, xlv, 69, 78, 90, 92, 101, IO4, 106, IO7, 122, 184, 22O, 233, 238, 252-3 Alarm, 176, 238, 240-1, 255, INDEX 417 SHIPS Ships—continued Albemarle, 78, 229, 405-6 Albion, xlv, 58-9, 62, 69, 71, 102, 104, 106 Alcide, Fr., captured, xv Alcide (built 1779), 69, 72, 78-80, 86, 90, 92, 122, 165, 243, 246, 252, 254 Alcmene, 78, 90 Aldborough, xxii Alecto, 284 Alert, brig, 165, 275 Alexander, 302-3 Alfred, 90, 122 ; in collision with Nymphe, 143 ; ‘ disastered’ in her masts, 149, 176; worm-eaten, 254 ; on 9th April, 275 ; captain killed, 276 ; faulty design of, 302-3 Amazon, 78,109-10, 114,131, 245 America, 123, 124, 130 America, Fr., 224 n. Andromache, 163 Andromaque, Fr., 256 Andromeda, xix, xlv, 68, 78, 372-3, 377-So Anson, x, xiv, xv, 251 Antigua, 18, 20, 35, 68, 185 Ardent, x, xviii, xxii, 39, 306;*., 316 n. [captured by the French, I7th August 1779]; recaptured, 160 Arethusa, 153, 18372. Arrogant, xxiii, 148, 284 Artesien, Fr., xlvi, 101, 106 Arundel, x, xvi, 7, 8, 17, 46 Assurance, 129-30 Astree, Fr., 278 Auguste, Fr., 168, 170, 191, 223, 245 Barbados, x, xvi, xxii, i, 18, 69, 266 Barfleur, 92, 98; Hood s letters dated from, 108- 262; 113, 118, 122, 125, 148, 160, 179; wormeaten, 254, 256, 260 Bedford, xlii, 65, 123, 124, 130, 144, 252, 265 I. SHIPS Ships—continued Bee, merchant brig, 185 Belle-Poule, Fr., 183;*. Belliqueux, 92, 122, 148, 176 Bellona, 351 Berwick, 68-9 Blanche, 78 Blandford, xvi Blenheim, 297 Bloodhound, 238, 240-1 Bonetta, 400 Boreas, 78-9 Bourgogne, Fr., 187, 191, 223 Boyne, xlv, 60, 62, 66, 69 Bretagne, Fr., 108, in, 117 Bruno, 78 Cabot, 302 Camel, 297, 302 Cameleon, 78 Canada, 176 Carcass, 78 Carysfort, 213, 219, 401 Caton, Fr., xlvi, 277, 283 ; captured, 282 Centaur, 68, 78, 80, 90, 92, 114, 115,117,122, 149, 165 Centurion, xlv, 278 Cerberus, 104 Ceres (i), Fr., xlvi ; captured, 167, 176, 178, 282 Ceres (2), Fr., 405 Cesar, Fr., 119; captured, 160 ; burnt, 176-7, 282 Champion, 148, 213 Chatham, 123, 129-30 Chesterfield, x-xii Citoyen, Fr.,xlvi, 191 Concorde, Fr., Iviii, 403-4 Conqueror, xlv, 56, 58-60, 69, 285, 374 Conquistador, Sp., captured in 1762, 74 n. Convert, 56, 78, 92, 141, 146, iSi Cormorant, 260 Cornwall, on r/th April, xlv, 55,386-7,389 391,393-7; very leaky, 60 ; sunk in the Cardnage, 62-3; in consequence of Admiral Parker’s neglect, 89 E E THE- BARHAM PAPERS SHIPS Ships—continued Couronne, Fr., xlvi, lii, 191 Culloden, x, xiv, xxii, 68, 78, 80 Cumberland, 305 Curasao, Dutch snow, 187 Cyclops, 78-9, 90 Daphne, 351 Dauphin Royal, Fr., xv Deal Castle, xlv, 78, 391 Defiance, xv, 304 Destin, Fr., xlvi, 170 Devonshire, 271 Diadem, 112 Diademe, Fr., 185-6, 192 Diamond, 238, 240 Diomede, 211 Dispatch, schooner, 136 Drake, 78, 131, 140 Druid, 297 Due de Bourgogne, Fr., 191 Duguay-Trouin, sloop, 221, 226-7, 230-1, 234, 238 Duke, ix-xi, 267, 269, 271, 27374, 279, 282 Dunkirk, xiv Edgar, 358 Egmont, 68, 78 Elizabeth, on I7th April, xlv, 100-7 ; ver7 sickly, 48 ; should be sent home, 62,69 Emerald, x, xvi, xvii Endymion, 231, 237, 238, 260 Espion, Fr., captured, 143 Essex, U.S., 276;/. Europe, 123, 124, 130 Eveille, Fr., 184, 187, 192 Experiment, 283 Fame, 62-3, 66, 69, 73, 78 Flamborough, ix-xi Formidable, 150, 154, 161, 163-4, 166, 189, 213, 263, 274, 279, 281, 283, 285 Fortitude, 351 Fortune’e, 78, 122, 138, 141, 146-7, 213, 266 Foudroyant, xlviii Fougueux, xv Fowey, 84 Fury, 235-6, 238-40 Gsorg-e, tender 353 SHIPS Ships—continued Germain, 215 Gibraltar, 92 Gloire, Fr., 210, 400 Glorieux, Fr., captured, 165, 168, 172-3, 279 Grafton, xlv, 56, 62, 69, 104, 389, 391, 395-7 Greyhound, xlv, 53, 78, 90 Guadeloupe, 53 Hawke, 302 Hector, Fr., badly damaged, 119 ; captured, 165 Helena, brig, 302 Hercule, Fr., 101, 106,182-4 187-8 Hercules, xxxiv, 352-3 Hermione, Fr., 403 Hornet, 78, 93 Hydra, 302 Hyena, 81, 93 Inflexible, 352 Intrepid, xlv, 78-9, 90 • leaky, 114 ; loses main top-mast, 115 ; ordered to St. Eustatius, 117, 122, 150; in a bad state, 151 ; unserviceable, 264, 266 Invincible, 92, 122, 137, 151, 248 Iris, 186, 212 ; formerly Hancock, ib. n. ; 399, 404 Jackal, cutter, 358 Jamaica, 234 Jane, 122 Janus, 266 Jason, Fr., captured, 168, 277, 282-3 Junon, Fr., 88 Jupiter, x, 215, 242 Languedoc, Fr., 191 Leander, 247, 286 Licorne, 180, 222, 232, 234, .239 Lion, 211, 220, 229, 232, 400 Lively, 215 Lizard, 113, 266 London, 120-1, 123-5, I 3°^ 233 Loyal Jane, merchant ship, INDEX 419 SHIPS Ships—continued Lys, Fr., capture of, xv Magnanime, Fr., 191, 277 Magnificent, xlv, 58 ; in very bad condition, 62, 69, 219, 229, 232, 241, 380 Magnifique, Fr., xlvi, 102, 106-7 Marlborough, xlviii, 279 Mars, Dutch frigate, captured, 9i Mars, Dutch 6o-gun ship, captured, 92 Marseillais, Fr., 184,187, 192 Medea, 351 Medway, xlv, 354, 360, 374 Minerva, 351 Monarch, x, xiv, 92, 122, 148-9, 238, 252, 278 Monmouth, xlviii, 90 Monsieur, 352 Montagu, 87, 92, 122, 148, 175-6 ; on 17th April, xlv, li, 101 ;/., 371-82 ; masts badly wounded, 28-29th April, 1781, 117 Namur, xxxiv, 271,279,352-3 Nonpareil, 20 Nonsuch, 352 Norfolk, 289 Northumberland, Fr., 191 Nymphe, 121,122 ; cut down by the Alfred, 143; 153, 251,254,266 Ocean, 352 Quebec, 302 n. Queen, 304 n. Palmier, Fr., xlvi, 192 Panther, 92 Peace and Plenty, victualler, on shore, 8r Pearl, xviii, 383 Pegasus, xlv, 53, 107, 147, 266 Peggy, tender, 352 Phcebe, 276 n. Pluton, Fr., xlvi, 170-71, 182, 184-5, -187-8, 191, 223, 245, 286-7 Pocahontas, 114, 115 Post Boy, 234 SHIPS S h i ps—continued Preston, 63, 69, 70 Prince, a hulk, 304-5 Prince George, x, xix, xxviii, 400-1 Prince of Wales, 46-7 Prince William, 92, no, 129, 148, 174, 246 Princess Caroline, 153, 157 Princess Royal, xlv, 56, 62, 63-64, 69, 102, 104, 106 Princessa, 92, 122 Proserpine, 131 Prothee, 150, 176, 266 Prudent, 123, 130, 136, 142, 144 Prudente, 352 Racoon, 400 Rainbow, 212 ;/. Ramillies, 69 Ranger, brig, 128, 137 Resolution, 86, 90, 92, 122, 382 Richmond, Fr., 173 and ;/. Robust, 123, 130, 266 Robuste, Fr., xlvi, 101, 102, 106 Roebuck, 120 Romulus, 401, 403 Rover, 78 ; captured, 88 Royal George, xxxvi, 288 Royal Oak, 120, 123-4, I3°> 148, 165-6 Russell, 63, 68, 78, 90, 92, 109, 112, 114, 136, 184 ; court – martial on board, 371-82 Sagittaire, Fr., 283 St. Albans, 143 Saint Esprit, Fr. So-gun ship, 117*., 169-70, 187 St. Eustatius, 266 St. Vincent, 266 Salamander, 122 Saltash, sloop, xvi San Luis, Sp., flag-ship of Solano, 192 Sandwich, ix-xi, xlii, xliii, xlv, lii, 52-97 passim, 103-4, 176, 383-90, 392-3, 396-7 E E 2 42O THE BARHAM PAPERS SHIPS Ships—continued Santa Margarita, 230, 237-9 Santa Monica, 94, 122, 186 Santfsima Trinidad, Sp. 192 ;*., 242 Scourge, 93, 351 Sensible, Fr., 403 SeVieux, Fr., 183 Shark, xxii Shrewsbury, 63, 68, 78, 86-7, 90, 92, iu-12, 122, 148, 150,249,252-3, 264 Sir Edward Hawke, schooner, Snake, sloop, 116 Sophie, Fr., captured, 400 Souverain, Fr., 173, 186-7 Speaker, sloop, x, xvi, 20 Sphinx, Fr., 101, 106 Squirrel, 297, 302 Stirling Castle, xlv, 62, 69, 101, 104, 106, 384, 391 Stormont, 266 Success, 351 Suffolk, xlv, 62, 78, 88, 395 Surprise, 78, 187, 266] Sybil, 92, 122, 238-40, 266 Sylph, cutter, 90 Swallow, 93 Terpsichore, 115 Terrible, xlv, 78-9, 88, 90, 92, 102, 104, 106, 122; burnt, 125 Thames, 84 Thetis, 92; wrecked, 119 Thunderer, 69 Tilbury, 177 Tisiphone, 146 Tobago, sloop, 254 Torbay, 69, 72, 7§, 86, 92, 114, 117, 129, 233, 238, 247-8, 252-3 Trident, xlv, 62, 69 Triomphant, Fr., xlvi, 130, 170-72, 191 Triton, 79, 90, 102, 106, 266 Triumph, 74 n., 78-9, 87-8, 90,92 Ulysses, 220-1 Unicorn, 183, 190 Union, 270 SMITH Ships—’Continued Valiant, 2, 148, 275, 278, 305 Vengeance, xlv, 59, 69, 78, 374 Venus, xlv, 53, 57, 61, 78, 391 Vestal, 211, 400 Vesuvius, 78 Victory, xxxiv, 288, 305 ; log of, 358 ; 365 Vigilant, xlv, 62, 69, 78, 90, 92 Ville de Paris, Fr., flagship of the Comte de Grasse, 108, in, 116, 144 ; captured, 160-1, 165-7, 172-3,178-9, 180, 182-3, 247, 279-81, 284 Warrior, 148, 176 Warwick, 120, 123, 129-30, 210-11, 400 Whitby, armed ship, 136,148 Winchester, 9 Wolf, 302 Yarmouth, xlv, li, 55, 73, 78, 82, 101, 148, 176, 382-98 Young Hazard, tender, 353 Young William, 230, 239 Zebra, 148 Zele, Fr., 168, 180, 277-8, 283 *Shirley, [Sir] Thomas, colonel, governor of St. Kitts, 135, 142, 144. (The date of birth, 1769, given in D.N.B., should be 1727.) Sickness, scurvy in the fleet, 327-9, 33i Signals, colours of flags, 69, 72, 3I3-I5, 337-9, 342-7 ; temporary line of battle, 76-7 ; signalling by numbers, 301 ; dimensions of flags, 313-5,335, 337, 339,343 ; project for, 343 ; by day, 345-7 ; by night, 348-9 Skene, General, 146 Slops, improper storing of, 85 ; should be uniform, 307-8; canvas bags, to be issued as, 316 n. Smith, a midshipman, 392 INDEX 421 SMITH Smith, Edward Tyrell, captain, IX 5 *”Smith, William Sidney, captain, letter to, 235 Solano, D. Jose, Marques del Socorro, Spanish admiral, 192 72., 201, 203, 208, 222, 228, 235,241,246,253 Spartel, action off Cape, exaggerated report of, 242 *Spencer, Earl, first lord of the admiralty, xx Sprout, David, commissarygeneral for naval prisoners, 402-03 Spry, Thomas, captain, 221. Letter from, ib. Stalkartt, Marmaduke, naval architect, 325 n. ^Stephens, [Sir] Philip, secretary of the admiralty, 84, 107, 239, 367-8. Letters to, 142, 239, 400-1 Stevenson, A. Letter from, 26 Store-house proposed for Barbados, 86 Storeships, plan for, 86 *Suckling, Maurice, comptroller of the navy, xix Surgeons, want of, in the fleet, 48 Sutherland, Andrew, captain, 112-13 Symons, Charles, clerk, 377 TABER, John, surgeon, 378-9 Tactics, naval, necessary, 309- 313; should form part of marine education, 312 ; evolutions of a fleet, 322-3 Taylor, Captain, arrest of, 24 Taylor, Thomas, captain, 131 Taylor, Mr., 51, 390 Ternay, Chev. de, chef d’escadre, 73, 123 Thomson, Sir John Deas, Barham’s secretary, xxi; proposed Life of Barham by, xxi-xxi i; letters published by, 263 Thompson, Charles, captain, 382 VAUDREUIL ^Thompson, Edward, captain, poet, 93 n. ; court-martial on, 128 n. ; charges against him, 128-9, I3 1 ; 382 Tireman, Thomas, lieutenant, 391 Tobago captured, 98-9 Todd, John, quartermaster, 377- 378 Touche, Comte de la, his extraordinary conduct, 213,399-404 Tourville, Comte de, marechal de France, 313 Trade, illicit, 16, 29, 37 Trade, protection of, in the West Indies, 1-38 ; estimate of force required, i ; disposition of ships, 2-5, 14, 15, 32, 34; reasons for, 6 ; modifications consequent on the capture of Guadeloupe, 9; the danger zone, 9-10, 31; advantage of brigs, 18, 19 ; great losses, 21, 29 ; commodore’s inefficiency complained of, 22-6 Traversay, French captain, want of courtesy to, 212-13 Tucker, Mr., suspected of favouring the enemy, 86-7 Truscott, William, captain, 70 Twysden, Thomas, lieutenant, 131,135,150. [Son of Sir William Twysden, Bart. ; b. 1765 ; captain, 1794 ; d. 1801 ; m. Isabella, daughter of Captain Henry Duncan (cf. N.R.S. xx. 108). To Elizabeth, his aunt—sister of Sir William— . Elizabeth Bouverie (ante) left a legacy of 400^.] UVEDALE, Samuel, captain, on 17th April, xlv, 101, 103-4, 107 n. VAUDREUIL, Comte de, French captain, 191 n. Vaudreuil, governor of Canada, 171 422 THE BARHAM PAPERS VAUDREUIL Vaudreuil, Marquis de, chef d’escadre, ist July, ’79 ; lieutenant-general, 14th Aug. ’82 ; xxxv, xlvi, Ixii, 116-17, 134, 150, 171, 180, 182, 185, 191, 196, 203, 205, 207-8, 211-15, 228, 230-2, 241, 245-7, 253, 262, 276 «,, 400, 405 -Vaughan, General, liv, 84, 91 Vercoe, 370 Viome’nil, M. de, French general, 400 WALSINGHAM, the Hon. Robert, commodore, 60, 68-9, 105 Washington, George, American general, Ivi-lix Watkins, Richard, captain, courtmartial on, xvi Watson, John, mate of a merchant-man, cruelly treated when a prisoner, 185-6 Watson, Thomas, captain, xlv Watt, William, 370 Watts, William, quartermaster, 392 Webber, John, midshipman, 392 Welsh, William, carpenter, 392 Wilkinson, Mr,, contractor for YOUNG transports, 82; of doubtful honesty, 96 ^William Henry, Prince [afterwards William IV.], xix; is much improved, 211 ; in perfect health, 241, 251, 254; entrusted to Hood’s care, 249 ; reception of, at Cape Frangais, 255-6, 259 ; suggested training of, 256-7; a delightful youth, 260. Letter to, 257 Williams, Captain, 369 Williams, Mrs., 369 Wood, S., member of the assembly of Barbados, 23 Woolwich Yard, great neglect in the lading of transports, 82 Wright, an instrument-maker, YARD, William, boatswain, 392 *York, Duke of, afterwards James II., his tactical improvements, 313 Young, Mrs., 76 Young, Walter, captain, xxxviii, xli-xliii, xlv, li, Hi, liv, Iv, 50 n. ; his letters to Middleton, 50-97 ; his death, 97
John Laughton was born in Liverpool on 23 April 1830, son of a Master Mariner. He was educated at the Royal Institution School, Liverpool and Caius College, Cambridge, where he read mathematics and graduated as a wrangler in 1852. He entered the Royal Navy as an instructor, joining his first ship, Royal George, in 1853, serving in the Baltic during the Crimean War. In 1866 he went ashore to teach at the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth, moving with the College to Greenwich in 1873, becoming Head of the Department of Meteorology and Marine Surveying.
In the 1870s he turned more to teaching history, delivering a famous lecture to the R.U.S.I. in 1874 on the importance of actually analysing historical events, rather than merely reporting them chronologically. This new approach meant that he “acted as a catalyst for the entire intellectual development of naval history as an independent discipline” (Andrew Lambert). He was an undoubted influence on naval thinkers of the time: Alfred Thayer Mahan, Julian Corbett and Herbert Richmond. In 1885 he left the Royal Navy to accept the position of Professor of Modern History at King’s College, London, and succeeded in convincing the Admiralty to allow limited public access to their archives. With Admiral Cyprian Bridge he founded the Navy Records Society in 1893. He wrote more than 900 entries on naval personalities for the Dictionary of National Biography. He was knighted for his work in 1907, awarded the Chesney Gold Medal in 1910 and died on 14 September 1915.
His publications include
• Physical Geography in its Relation to the Prevailing Winds and Currents (Potter, 1873).
• Nelson (Macmillan, 1889).
• Studies in Naval History (Longmans, 1896).
• State Papers relating to the Spanish Armada, Volume I (Navy Records Society, 1894).
• State Papers relating to the Spanish Armada, Volume II (Navy Records Society, 1894).
• The Nelson Memorial: Nelson and his Companions in Arms (G Allen, 1896).
• The Journals of Rear Admiral Bartholomew James, 1752-1828 (Navy Records Society, 1896).
• From Howard to Nelson: Twelve Sailors (Heinemann, 1899).
• The Naval Miscellany, Volume I (Navy Records Society, 1902).
• Recollections of James Anthony Gardner, Commander R.N. 1775 – 1814 (Navy Records Society, 1906).
• Letters and Papers of Lord Barham, 3 volumes (navy Records Society, 1907, 1910, 1912).
• The Naval Miscellany, Volume II (Navy Records Society, 1912).
See also:
• Andrew Lambert The Foundations of Naval History: John Knox Laughton, the Royal Navy and the Historical Profession (Chatham Publishing, 1998).
• Andrew Lambert Laughton’s Legacy: Naval History at King’s College London (KCL 2002).
• Andrew Lambert Letters and Papers of Professor John Knox Laughton, 1830-1915 (Navy Records Society, 2002).
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