GB 0102 MS 211081 - Hart, Sir Robert (copies of letters to Sir Francis Aglen)

1 volume

GB 0102 MS 211081 1888-1911 Collection (fonds) 1 volume Hart , Sir , Robert , 1835-1911 , 1st Baronet , Inspector-General of Customs in China

Robert Hart (Chinese name He De) was born in Milltown, Co Armagh, on 20 February 1835. He was educated at Queen's College, Taunton, Wesley College, Dublin, and Queen's College, Belfast, where he received a BA in 1853. The following year he entered the consular service, working in Hong Kong, Ningo and Canton before resigning in 1859 to join the Chinese Maritime Customs. After working as Deputy Commissioner in Canton and Commissioner in Shanghai he was appointed as the first Inspector General in 1863. He held this post for nearly fifty years until his death and his commitment to the service led him to refuse the post of British Minister to China in 1885. As well as his work in the Customs he was used by the Quing government to further their aims in dealing with foreign powers. He became supreme advisor to Zongli Yamen (the Chinese office dealing with foreign affairs). On behalf of the Quing government he arranged the Lisbon Protocol in 1885 after negotiations with the Portugese over Macao. He negotiated with the Indian government over Sikkim and with the British over navigation of the Yangtze River. His efforts led to his receiving honours from a number of countries including Italy, Portugal, Norway, and Holland, and a number of Chinese honours. He gained an honorary doctorate in 1882. He was also asked to help with efforts towards 'modernisation' such as the establishment of the Chinese postal system and the establishment of Tong Wen Guan (Institute of Education).

In 1866 he married Hestor Jane Bredon and they had three children including a son, Bruce, who took over from J D Campbell in the London office in 1907. He also had three children from an earlier liaison with a Chinese woman. These children he supported as his 'wards'. Hestor's brother, Robert, was also a member of the Chinese Maritime Customs and became Acting Inspector General when Hart returned to England from 1908 until 1910. In 1901 he wrote These from the Land of Sinim. He died on 20 September 1911.

Sir Francis Arthur Aglen joined the Chinese Maritime Customs in 1888. He was Acting Inspector-General in 1910 before succeeding Sir Robert Hart. He retired as Inspector-General in 1928.

Unknown.

Volume of typescript copies of Sir Robert Hart's letters to Sir Francis Arthur Aglen, 1888-1911.

Chronological.

Unrestricted.

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English

Unknown.

The School of Oriental and African Studies holds correspondence and papers of Sir Robert Hart (Ref: PP MS 67); a volume of typescript copies of Sir Robert Hart's letters to J D Campbell, 1903-1907 (Ref: MS 211351); two letterbooks containing J D Campbell's copies of his letters to Sir Robert Hart, 1898-1906 (Ref: MS 211353). For other related collections at SOAS, see published guide: Papers Relating to the Chinese Maritime Customs 1860-1943. In addition to Sir Robert Hart's papers, these include the papers of Sir Frederick Maze (Ref: PP MS 2); George H Fitzroy (Ref: MS 258361); Edward Charles Macintosh Bowra and Cecil Arthur Verner Bowra (Ref: MS 201813); and Sir Francis Arthur Aglen (Ref: MS 211355).

The Second Historical Archives of China, Nanjing, hold the administrative archive of the Chinese Maritime Customs. The customs records date from 1861 and are largely in English. A published guide Brief Guide to the Second Historical Archives of China is available. Queens University of Belfast Library holds correspondence, diaries and papers, 1854-1908, of Sir Robert Hart (see Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation, supp. 1965-1975, 1979). The British Library, Manuscript Collections, holds a manuscript of 'The Peking Legations' (Ref: Add MS 46499). Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Department of Western Manuscripts, holds miscellaneous letters and papers, 1866-1908, of Sir Robert Hart (Ref: MSS Eng Lett c 304, d 319-27, e 124-27, Eng misc b 108-09, c 530-31). The National Library of Wales, Department of Manuscripts and Records, holds Sir Robert Hart's correspondence with Lord Rendel, 1880-1910 (Ref: NLW MSS 19440-67, 20569-72, 23028-35) and his letters to Lord Rendel, 1882-1900 (Ref: 31). The Public Record Office holds Sir Robert Hart's correspondence with Sir E M Satow, 1901-1906 (Ref: PRO30/33/10/3).

The State Library of New South Wales, Mitchell Library, holds Sir Francis Aglen's letters to G E Morrison, 1910-1920 (Ref: ML MSS 312).

Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. 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. Mar 2002 Aglen , Sir , Francis Arthur , 1869-1932 , Knight , Inspector-General of Chinese Maritime Customs China Chinese Maritime Customs x Imperial Maritime Customs Customs policy East Asia Exports/imports Finance Foreign relations Hart , Sir , Robert , 1835-1911 , 1st Baronet , Inspector-General of Customs in China International relations International trade Trade Trade (practice)

Unknown.

Volume of typescript copies of Sir Robert Hart's letters to Sir Francis Arthur Aglen, 1888-1911.

Chronological.

Unrestricted.

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.

• English

• Latin

English

The School of Oriental and African Studies holds correspondence and papers of Sir Robert Hart (Ref: PP MS 67); a volume of typescript copies of Sir Robert Hart's letters to J D Campbell, 1903-1907 (Ref: MS 211351); two letterbooks containing J D Campbell's copies of his letters to Sir Robert Hart, 1898-1906 (Ref: MS 211353). For other related collections at SOAS, see published guide: Papers Relating to the Chinese Maritime Customs 1860-1943. In addition to Sir Robert Hart's papers, these include the papers of Sir Frederick Maze (Ref: PP MS 2); George H Fitzroy (Ref: MS 258361); Edward Charles Macintosh Bowra and Cecil Arthur Verner Bowra (Ref: MS 201813); and Sir Francis Arthur Aglen (Ref: MS 211355).

Unknown.

The Second Historical Archives of China, Nanjing, hold the administrative archive of the Chinese Maritime Customs. The customs records date from 1861 and are largely in English. A published guide Brief Guide to the Second Historical Archives of China is available. Queens University of Belfast Library holds correspondence, diaries and papers, 1854-1908, of Sir Robert Hart (see Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation, supp. 1965-1975, 1979). The British Library, Manuscript Collections, holds a manuscript of 'The Peking Legations' (Ref: Add MS 46499). Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Department of Western Manuscripts, holds miscellaneous letters and papers, 1866-1908, of Sir Robert Hart (Ref: MSS Eng Lett c 304, d 319-27, e 124-27, Eng misc b 108-09, c 530-31). The National Library of Wales, Department of Manuscripts and Records, holds Sir Robert Hart's correspondence with Lord Rendel, 1880-1910 (Ref: NLW MSS 19440-67, 20569-72, 23028-35) and his letters to Lord Rendel, 1882-1900 (Ref: 31). The Public Record Office holds Sir Robert Hart's correspondence with Sir E M Satow, 1901-1906 (Ref: PRO30/33/10/3).

The State Library of New South Wales, Mitchell Library, holds Sir Francis Aglen's letters to G E Morrison, 1910-1920 (Ref: ML MSS 312).

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.

• English