Collection GB 0064 DAW - Dawkins, Rear-Admiral Richard (1828-1896)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 DAW

Title

Dawkins, Rear-Admiral Richard (1828-1896)

Date(s)

  • [1851-1858] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

I 1/2 ft; 46cm

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Dawkins entered the Navy in 1841. After becoming a lieutenant in 1848 he served in the RATTLER and was given charge of two Brazilian slavers as prizes in 1849. He then served in the MODESTE and in the GLATTON, a floating battery which went to the Crimea, 1855 to 1856. After this he was in the ESK commanded by Sir Robert McClure (q.v.) in a cruise to the Far East, and was present in the BITTERN at the attack on Canton in 1857. He returned home in the COMUS. He was commander in the MARS, Channel Squadron, in 1859, was promoted to Captain in 1863 and in 1866 went to the Pacific in command of the ZEALOUS. In 1873 he was appointed to the VANGUARD, which in September 1875 sank after colliding with the IRON DUKE. At the subsequent court martial Dawkins was held responsible for the accident. After 1875 Dawkins made several unsuccessful applications to the Admiralty for employment and for a reconsideration of his case. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1878 on the retired list but the finding of the court martial was never reversed.

Archival history

GB 0064 DAW [1851-1858] Collection I 1/2 ft; 46cm Dawkins , Richard , 1828-1896 , Rear-Admiral

Dawkins entered the Navy in 1841. After becoming a lieutenant in 1848 he served in the RATTLER and was given charge of two Brazilian slavers as prizes in 1849. He then served in the MODESTE and in the GLATTON, a floating battery which went to the Crimea, 1855 to 1856. After this he was in the ESK commanded by Sir Robert McClure (q.v.) in a cruise to the Far East, and was present in the BITTERN at the attack on Canton in 1857. He returned home in the COMUS. He was commander in the MARS, Channel Squadron, in 1859, was promoted to Captain in 1863 and in 1866 went to the Pacific in command of the ZEALOUS. In 1873 he was appointed to the VANGUARD, which in September 1875 sank after colliding with the IRON DUKE. At the subsequent court martial Dawkins was held responsible for the accident. After 1875 Dawkins made several unsuccessful applications to the Admiralty for employment and for a reconsideration of his case. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1878 on the retired list but the finding of the court martial was never reversed.

The papers had been arranged by Dawkins himself and were further arranged by Mr J.M. Dawkins, his son, at the time of their presentation in 1958. There were two small additions in 1961 and 1963, both given by Mr Dawkins.

Papers of Admiral Dawkins, including papers of his early career consist of official service documents and three diaries, 1851 to 1858. Those concerned with the loss of the VANGUARD consist of some official publications, such as the findings of the court martial, a large collection of press cuttings, some private letters and Dawkins' own account of the disaster.

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 Dawkins , Richard , 1828-1896 , Rear-Admiral Disasters Manmade disasters Transport Vehicles Ships Accidents Seaborne disasters Shipwrecks Royal Navy HMS Vanguard

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers had been arranged by Dawkins himself and were further arranged by Mr J.M. Dawkins, his son, at the time of their presentation in 1958. There were two small additions in 1961 and 1963, both given by Mr Dawkins.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Admiral Dawkins, including papers of his early career consist of official service documents and three diaries, 1851 to 1858. Those concerned with the loss of the VANGUARD consist of some official publications, such as the findings of the court martial, a large collection of press cuttings, some private letters and Dawkins' own account of the disaster.

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

Please contact the Archive for further information.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

National Maritime Museum

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area