Collection GB 0064 JER - Jervis, John, Admiral Of The Fleet (1735-1823)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 JER

Title

Jervis, John, Admiral Of The Fleet (1735-1823)

Date(s)

  • [1794-1807] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

5 vols

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Jervis, son of Swynfen Jervis, Counsel to the Admiralty between 1747 and 1757, entered the Navy against his father's wishes in 1749. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1755, served with distinction in the Seven Years War and reached captain's rank in 1760. He served in the Channel during the American War of Independence. After the war he became a Member of Parliament, representing Launceston, Yarmouth and Wycombe successively. In 1787 Jervis became a rear-admiral and in 1793 a vice-admiral. He was Commander-in-chief of the West Indies Expedition, 1793 to 1794, capturing Martinique and Guadeloupe. He returned home in 1795 and in the same year was promoted to admiral and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. In February 1797 he defeated the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, for which victory he was created an earl. He gave up his command in 1799. After a brief period in command of the Channel Fleet he served as First Lord of the Admiralty, 1801 to 1804. His term of office aroused considerable controversy and he refused further service afloat until after the death of Pitt, but took the Channel command in 1806. He resigned after a further change of ministry in 1807. In 1821 he was made Admiral of the Fleet. Among a number of biographies is Jedediah Tucker, Memoirs of Admiral the Rt. Hon.The Earl of St. Vincent G.C.B.. (London, 1844), while some correspondence has been published by David Bonner-Smith, ed., 'Letters of Admiral of the Fleet the Earl of St. Vincent whilst First Lord of the Admiralty 1801 to 1804' (Navy Records Society, 1922, 1927, 2 vols).

Archival history

GB 0064 JER [1794-1807] Collection 5 vols Jervis , John , 1735-1823 , Earl of St Vincent , Admiral of the Fleet

Jervis, son of Swynfen Jervis, Counsel to the Admiralty between 1747 and 1757, entered the Navy against his father's wishes in 1749. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1755, served with distinction in the Seven Years War and reached captain's rank in 1760. He served in the Channel during the American War of Independence. After the war he became a Member of Parliament, representing Launceston, Yarmouth and Wycombe successively. In 1787 Jervis became a rear-admiral and in 1793 a vice-admiral. He was Commander-in-chief of the West Indies Expedition, 1793 to 1794, capturing Martinique and Guadeloupe. He returned home in 1795 and in the same year was promoted to admiral and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. In February 1797 he defeated the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, for which victory he was created an earl. He gave up his command in 1799. After a brief period in command of the Channel Fleet he served as First Lord of the Admiralty, 1801 to 1804. His term of office aroused considerable controversy and he refused further service afloat until after the death of Pitt, but took the Channel command in 1806. He resigned after a further change of ministry in 1807. In 1821 he was made Admiral of the Fleet. Among a number of biographies is Jedediah Tucker, Memoirs of Admiral the Rt. Hon.The Earl of St. Vincent G.C.B.. (London, 1844), while some correspondence has been published by David Bonner-Smith, ed., 'Letters of Admiral of the Fleet the Earl of St. Vincent whilst First Lord of the Admiralty 1801 to 1804' (Navy Records Society, 1922, 1927, 2 vols).

The papers were purchased from a dealer in 1941.

Papers of John Jervis, consisting of letters and copies of letters received from Lord Nelson, 1794 to 1804.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

English

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

These papers were inherited through St. Vincent's nephew, Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Parker (q.v.), in whose collection there are further papers of St. Vincent. His lieutenant's promotion book, 1801, was loaned to the Museum by Mr H.R. Reade, in 1962. There is also his letterbook, 1806 to 1807, in the section of volumes acquired singly by the Museum.

Edited by Sarah Drewery, Sep 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.

2011-05-13 Nelson , Horatio , 1758-1805 , 1st Viscount Nelson of the Nile and Burnham Thorpe , Vice-Admiral Naval affairs Jervis , John , 1735-1823 , Earl of St Vincent , Admiral of the Fleet Napoleonic Wars (1800-1815) Parker , Sir , William , 1781-1866 , 1st Baronet , Admiral of the Fleet Royal Navy Military affairs Wars (events) Military science Social sciences

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were purchased from a dealer in 1941.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of John Jervis, consisting of letters and copies of letters received from Lord Nelson, 1794 to 1804.

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

These papers were inherited through St. Vincent's nephew, Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Parker (q.v.), in whose collection there are further papers of St. Vincent. His lieutenant's promotion book, 1801, was loaned to the Museum by Mr H.R. Reade, in 1962. There is also his letterbook, 1806 to 1807, in the section of volumes acquired singly by the Museum.

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