Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1768-1795 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2ft; 61cm
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Caldwell entered the Navy in 1754 and was made a lieutenant in 1760. After service in the Channel during the Seven Years War, he became a commander in 1762 and a post captain in 1765. He then commanded the Rose in North America, 1768 to 1771, and the Emerald, 1775 to 1779, on that station and on convoy duties. He was appointed in 1780 to the Hannibal and convoyed the East India Company ships home. In April 1781 he was transferred to the Agamemnon in the Channel; she then sailed with Admiral Rodney (1719-1792) to the West Indies and was present at the battle of the Saints, 1782. The Agamemnon remained on the West Indies and North American Stations until 1783. Caldwell commanded the Alcide in 1787 and the Berwick during the mobilization of 1790. In 1793 he was promoted to rear-admiral and served in the Cumberland under Admiral Howe (q.v.). He transferred his flag in 1794 to the Impregnable and took part in the battle of First of June. In July of the same year he became a vice-admiral and was sent to the Leeward Islands in the Majestic under Admiral Jervis (q.v.); shortly after this Jervis returned home and Caldwell acted as Commander-in-Chief. His active career ended in 1795 and he was promoted to admiral in 1799.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0064 CAL/101-130 1768-1795 Subfonds 2ft; 61cm Caldwell , Sir , Benjamin , 1737-1830 , Knight , Admiral
Caldwell entered the Navy in 1754 and was made a lieutenant in 1760. After service in the Channel during the Seven Years War, he became a commander in 1762 and a post captain in 1765. He then commanded the Rose in North America, 1768 to 1771, and the Emerald, 1775 to 1779, on that station and on convoy duties. He was appointed in 1780 to the Hannibal and convoyed the East India Company ships home. In April 1781 he was transferred to the Agamemnon in the Channel; she then sailed with Admiral Rodney (1719-1792) to the West Indies and was present at the battle of the Saints, 1782. The Agamemnon remained on the West Indies and North American Stations until 1783. Caldwell commanded the Alcide in 1787 and the Berwick during the mobilization of 1790. In 1793 he was promoted to rear-admiral and served in the Cumberland under Admiral Howe (q.v.). He transferred his flag in 1794 to the Impregnable and took part in the battle of First of June. In July of the same year he became a vice-admiral and was sent to the Leeward Islands in the Majestic under Admiral Jervis (q.v.); shortly after this Jervis returned home and Caldwell acted as Commander-in-Chief. His active career ended in 1795 and he was promoted to admiral in 1799.
The papers were presented in two sections. The first, by Mrs Osborn (q.v.). A further collection was presented by Mrs Joan Cooper in the papers of Captain Henry Caldwell (q.v.). Mrs Cooper's husband, Captain Derek Cooper, was a great-great-grandson of Admiral Caldwell.
Papers of Sir Benjamin Caldwell comprising two collections. In the first collection consist of logs, 1768 to 1771, 1775 to 1777, 1780 to 1782, 1794 to 1795; letterbooks, 1776 to 1782, 1788, 1793 to 1795, and order books 1775 to 1783, 1788, 1794 to 1795. There is an account of the battle of the Saints. The second collection includes in-letters, 1775 to 1779, 1794 to 1795; a prize hook, 1777 to 1795; documents relating to the Agamemnon; Lord Howe? 5 signals, 1790; letters relating to the disagreements after the battle of First of June, and a personal signed copy of Rodney's defence of his conduct at St. Eustatius, 1781.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jun 2011.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
2010-08-26 Caldwell , Sir , Benjamin , 1737-1830 , Knight , Admiral Battles Naval battles Caribbean
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were presented in two sections. The first, by Mrs Osborn (q.v.). A further collection was presented by Mrs Joan Cooper in the papers of Captain Henry Caldwell (q.v.). Mrs Cooper's husband, Captain Derek Cooper, was a great-great-grandson of Admiral Caldwell.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Sir Benjamin Caldwell comprising two collections. In the first collection consist of logs, 1768 to 1771, 1775 to 1777, 1780 to 1782, 1794 to 1795; letterbooks, 1776 to 1782, 1788, 1793 to 1795, and order books 1775 to 1783, 1788, 1794 to 1795. There is an account of the battle of the Saints. The second collection includes in-letters, 1775 to 1779, 1794 to 1795; a prize hook, 1777 to 1795; documents relating to the Agamemnon; Lord Howe? 5 signals, 1790; letters relating to the disagreements after the battle of First of June, and a personal signed copy of Rodney's defence of his conduct at St. Eustatius, 1781.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Conditions governing reproduction
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Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Place access points
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Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English