Collection GB 0064 ROD - Roddam, Admiral Robert (1719-1808)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 ROD

Title

Roddam, Admiral Robert (1719-1808)

Date(s)

  • [1746-1792] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

4 1/2ft; 139cm

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Roddam entered the Navy in 1735 and after serving in the West Indies was promoted to lieutenant in 1741. His first command was the VIPER in the Channel in 1746 and he was promoted to captain in 1747, afterwards commanding the GREYHOUND in the North Sea and in North America. In 1753 Roddam commanded the Bristol guardship at Plymouth and in 1755 was appointed to the GREENWICH in the West Indies where, in 1757, she was captured by superior French forces. At his court martial he was honourably acquitted. He commanded the COLCHESTER in the Channel in 1759 and in 1760 went to St Helena to escort the homecoming East India convoy. Between 1770 and 1773 Roddam commanded the LENOX, for most of the time as guardship at Plymouth. After a period on half-pay he was appointed to the CORNWALL at Portsmouth in 1777 but in 1778 he was promoted to rear-admiral and served as Commander-in-Chief at the NORE for the remainder of the war, being promoted to vice-admiral in 1779. Roddam flew his flag in the ROYAL WILLIAM during the Spanish mobilization, 1790, but was not employed again. He became an admiral in 1793.

Archival history

GB 0064 ROD [1746-1792] Collection 4 1/2ft; 139cm Roddam , Robert , 1719-1808 , Admiral

Roddam entered the Navy in 1735 and after serving in the West Indies was promoted to lieutenant in 1741. His first command was the VIPER in the Channel in 1746 and he was promoted to captain in 1747, afterwards commanding the GREYHOUND in the North Sea and in North America. In 1753 Roddam commanded the Bristol guardship at Plymouth and in 1755 was appointed to the GREENWICH in the West Indies where, in 1757, she was captured by superior French forces. At his court martial he was honourably acquitted. He commanded the COLCHESTER in the Channel in 1759 and in 1760 went to St Helena to escort the homecoming East India convoy. Between 1770 and 1773 Roddam commanded the LENOX, for most of the time as guardship at Plymouth. After a period on half-pay he was appointed to the CORNWALL at Portsmouth in 1777 but in 1778 he was promoted to rear-admiral and served as Commander-in-Chief at the NORE for the remainder of the war, being promoted to vice-admiral in 1779. Roddam flew his flag in the ROYAL WILLIAM during the Spanish mobilization, 1790, but was not employed again. He became an admiral in 1793.

The papers were originally deposited on loan by the Holderness-Roddam family in 1967 and 1973, apart from one volume purchased in 1938, but were given to the Museum in 2010.

Papers of Robert Roddam, comprising an almost complete service record from 1746, including a log, 1759 to 1778, together with letter and order books, 1746 to 1783, 1789 to 1792, and two signal books. There is a very full administrative correspondence during the American War of Independence and the 1790 crisis. There are no personal papers in the collection.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

English

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Estate and family papers are in the Northumberland Record Office.

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.

2010-08-26 Naval affairs Ships logs American War of Independence (1775-1783) Roddam , Robert , 1719-1808 , Admiral Royal Navy Primary documents Military affairs Wars (events) Documents Military science Information sources Social sciences

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were originally deposited on loan by the Holderness-Roddam family in 1967 and 1973, apart from one volume purchased in 1938, but were given to the Museum in 2010.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Robert Roddam, comprising an almost complete service record from 1746, including a log, 1759 to 1778, together with letter and order books, 1746 to 1783, 1789 to 1792, and two signal books. There is a very full administrative correspondence during the American War of Independence and the 1790 crisis. There are no personal papers in the collection.

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

Estate and family papers are in the Northumberland Record Office.

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