Subfonds GB 0064 HTN/1-70 - Keppel, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry (1809-1904)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 HTN/1-70

Title

Keppel, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry (1809-1904)

Date(s)

  • [1824-1900] (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

Extent and medium

6 1/2ft;195cm

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Keppel entered the Navy in 1822 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1828, when he was appointed to the GALATEA in home waters and later in the West Indies. He then went to the East Indies in the MAGICIENNE. In 1833, he was promoted to commander and the following year commanded the CHILDERS off Spain during the Carlist War. In 1837, he was promoted to captain and in 1841 commanded the DIDO during the China War. After this he remained in the East Indies, helping Sir James Brooke (1803-1868) to suppress pirates off Borneo. He commanded, after two years on half-pay, the MEANDER on the same station, returning to England in 1851. In 1853 he was appointed to the ST JOAN D'ACR in the Baltic and then, in 1855, went to the RODNEY in the Black Sea, serving with distinction in the Crimea. In 1856 he went again to China where he lost his ship the RALEIGH; Keppel was acquitted in the subsequent court martial. He commandeered the Hong Kong, a river steamer, and at the battle of Fatshan Creek, on the Canton River, destroyed a powerful force of pirates in 1857, the year he was promoted to rear-admiral. In 1860 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Cape and Brazil Station. He became a vice-admiral in 1864 and from 1866 to 1869 commanded the China Squadron. Between 1872 and 1875 he was Commander-in-Chief at Devonport and in 1877 was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet. Keppel published his memoirs, A sailors life under four sovereigns (London, 1899). See also Sir Algernon Edward West, Memoir of Sir Henry Keppel G.C.B. Admiral of the Fleet (London, 1945) and V.E. Stuart, The beloved little admiral (London, 1967).

Archival history

GB 0064 HTN/1-70 [1824-1900] Subfonds 6 1/2ft;195cm Keppel , Sir , Henry , 1809-1904) , Knight , Admiral of the Fleet

Keppel entered the Navy in 1822 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1828, when he was appointed to the GALATEA in home waters and later in the West Indies. He then went to the East Indies in the MAGICIENNE. In 1833, he was promoted to commander and the following year commanded the CHILDERS off Spain during the Carlist War. In 1837, he was promoted to captain and in 1841 commanded the DIDO during the China War. After this he remained in the East Indies, helping Sir James Brooke (1803-1868) to suppress pirates off Borneo. He commanded, after two years on half-pay, the MEANDER on the same station, returning to England in 1851. In 1853 he was appointed to the ST JOAN D'ACR in the Baltic and then, in 1855, went to the RODNEY in the Black Sea, serving with distinction in the Crimea. In 1856 he went again to China where he lost his ship the RALEIGH; Keppel was acquitted in the subsequent court martial. He commandeered the Hong Kong, a river steamer, and at the battle of Fatshan Creek, on the Canton River, destroyed a powerful force of pirates in 1857, the year he was promoted to rear-admiral. In 1860 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Cape and Brazil Station. He became a vice-admiral in 1864 and from 1866 to 1869 commanded the China Squadron. Between 1872 and 1875 he was Commander-in-Chief at Devonport and in 1877 was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet. Keppel published his memoirs, A sailors life under four sovereigns (London, 1899). See also Sir Algernon Edward West, Memoir of Sir Henry Keppel G.C.B. Admiral of the Fleet (London, 1945) and V.E. Stuart, The beloved little admiral (London, 1967).

The papers are part of the Hamilton collection, Keppel's daughter having married Sir Frederick Tower Hamilton (q.v.). They were presented in 1957 and 1958 by Miss Jean Hamilton.

Papers of Sir Henry Keppel, consisting of logs, 1824 to 1825, 1830 to 1831, 1834 to 1835, 1842 to 1845, 1847 to 1851, 1853 to 1857, 1860 to 1861; private journals, 1867 to 1869; annual diaries, 1834 to 1838, 1842 to 1844, 1855 to 1857, 1867 to 1869; private letterbooks, 1867 to 1869, 1874 to 1875 and loose papers. These are mainly letters received, 1841 to 1900, the bulk of which date from 1870. Of the two groups of Keppel's letters to his family, one covers the Crimean War and the other his tour of the Far East, 1897 to 1900.

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, Jul 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 Naval affairs Ships logs Wars (events) Crimean War (1853-1856) Keppel , Sir , Henry , 1809-1904 , Knight , Admiral of the Fleet Royal Navy East Asia Primary documents Military affairs Military science Documents Social sciences Information sources

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers are part of the Hamilton collection, Keppel's daughter having married Sir Frederick Tower Hamilton (q.v.). They were presented in 1957 and 1958 by Miss Jean Hamilton.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Sir Henry Keppel, consisting of logs, 1824 to 1825, 1830 to 1831, 1834 to 1835, 1842 to 1845, 1847 to 1851, 1853 to 1857, 1860 to 1861; private journals, 1867 to 1869; annual diaries, 1834 to 1838, 1842 to 1844, 1855 to 1857, 1867 to 1869; private letterbooks, 1867 to 1869, 1874 to 1875 and loose papers. These are mainly letters received, 1841 to 1900, the bulk of which date from 1870. Of the two groups of Keppel's letters to his family, one covers the Crimean War and the other his tour of the Far East, 1897 to 1900.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

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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

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Related descriptions

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Alternative identifier(s)

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Name access points

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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