Collection GB 0064 FOL - Foley, Admiral Sir Thomas (1757-1833)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 FOL

Title

Foley, Admiral Sir Thomas (1757-1833)

Date(s)

  • 1797-1832 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

2ft; 62cm

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Foley entered the Navy in 1770 and after early service in Newfoundland and the West Indies was promoted to lieutenant in 1778. During the American War he saw service in the Channel, North America and the West Indies. In 1782 he was promoted to commander and in 1790 to captain. After a period on the Home Station, he was Flag-Captain in the BRITANNIA at the battle of Cape St Vincent, 1797, and in the GOLIATH he led the Fleet into action at the Nile, 1798. In 1800, Foley was appointed to the ELEPHANT in the Channel Fleet, going later to the Baltic, where he served at the battle of Copenhagen, 1801. Foley 'was then ill and unfit for service for several years until his appointment as Commander-in-Chief in the Downs from 1811 to the peace, 1815. He had been promoted to rear-admiral in 1808, became a vice-admiral in 1812 and in 1825 an admiral. In 1830 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, where he served until his death. There is a privately printed biography by John Beresford Herbert, The life and services of Admiral Sir Thomas Foley, G.C.B., Rear-Admiral of Great Britain (Cardiff, 1884).

Archival history

GB 0064 FOL 1797-1832 Collection 2ft; 62cm Foley , Sir , Thomas , 1757-1833 , Knight , Admiral

Foley entered the Navy in 1770 and after early service in Newfoundland and the West Indies was promoted to lieutenant in 1778. During the American War he saw service in the Channel, North America and the West Indies. In 1782 he was promoted to commander and in 1790 to captain. After a period on the Home Station, he was Flag-Captain in the BRITANNIA at the battle of Cape St Vincent, 1797, and in the GOLIATH he led the Fleet into action at the Nile, 1798. In 1800, Foley was appointed to the ELEPHANT in the Channel Fleet, going later to the Baltic, where he served at the battle of Copenhagen, 1801. Foley 'was then ill and unfit for service for several years until his appointment as Commander-in-Chief in the Downs from 1811 to the peace, 1815. He had been promoted to rear-admiral in 1808, became a vice-admiral in 1812 and in 1825 an admiral. In 1830 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, where he served until his death. There is a privately printed biography by John Beresford Herbert, The life and services of Admiral Sir Thomas Foley, G.C.B., Rear-Admiral of Great Britain (Cardiff, 1884).

The papers were purchased in 1953 from Christie's through the Caird Fund.

Papers of Sir Thomas Foley, consisting of about 630 letters received by Foley between 1797 and 1832. Much of the correspondence concerns the promotion of young officers. There are approximately 140 correspondents; those with more than a few letters include Prince William Henry, Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton (1759-1832), Admiral Sir Richard Keats (q.v. ), Robert Saunders Dundas, Lord Melville (q.v.), Earl St Vincent (q.v.), Admiral Sir Robert Stopford (q.v.), Admiral Sir William Young (1751-1821) and Vice-Admiral Sir William Hope (1766-1831).

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 Jervis , John , 1735-1823 , Earl of St Vincent , Admiral of the Fleet Dundas , Robert Saunders , 1771-1851 , 2nd Viscount Melville , Scots statesman Keats , Sir , Richard Goodwin , 1757-1834 , Knight , Admiral , Governor of Newfoundland Bickerton , Sir , Richard Hussey , 1759-1832 , Knight , Admiral William Henry , 1743-1805 , Prince , Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Foley , Sir , Thomas , 1757-1833 , Knight , Admiral Napoleonic Wars (1800-1815) Military science Social sciences Military affairs Naval affairs Stopford , Sir , Robert , 1768-1847 , Knight , Admiral Young , Sir , William , 1749-1815 , 2nd Baronet , Governor of Tobago Hope , Sir , William Johnstone , 1766-1831 , Knight , Vice Admiral Royal Navy Wars (events)

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were purchased in 1953 from Christie's through the Caird Fund.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Sir Thomas Foley, consisting of about 630 letters received by Foley between 1797 and 1832. Much of the correspondence concerns the promotion of young officers. There are approximately 140 correspondents; those with more than a few letters include Prince William Henry, Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton (1759-1832), Admiral Sir Richard Keats (q.v. ), Robert Saunders Dundas, Lord Melville (q.v.), Earl St Vincent (q.v.), Admiral Sir Robert Stopford (q.v.), Admiral Sir William Young (1751-1821) and Vice-Admiral Sir William Hope (1766-1831).

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

Subject 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