- Private Weather Diary: Diary of Admiral Beaufort box 1 HMS Latona, Aquilon and Phaeton
Archive
Bib No.:
- 624247
Level:
- Sub Series
Archive Reference:
- MET/2/1/2/3/539
Creator:
- Beaufort, F.
Date:
- 1790 - 1800
Extent of unit:
- 3x bound volumes, 5x notebooks
Description:
- Weather diaries kept by Francis Beaufort giving wind direction, location and detailed weather notes. Volumes cover: HMS Latona 12 June 1790 - 27 November 1790, HMS Aquilon 10 June 1791 - 24 July 1794, HMS Phaeton 24 July 1794 - 26 June 1800. From January 1794 logs give further details such as courses, knots and fathoms and there are also occasional illustrations esp. see front of first bound volume, page on changing from Aquilon to Phaeton and illustration of the hold of HMS Phaeton 1795. The diaries start with Beaufort as a midshipman and he is promoted to 1st lieutenant by 1800. 1st - 2nd June 1794 Describes in some detail the battle of the Glorious First of June (first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between Britain and France during the French Revolutionary Wars) and visit by members of the royal family 29 June 1794. Volume for 1800 has extensive notes in red ink written crosswise - this appears to be the case where Beaufort has run out of room writing across the page. Notes are particularly copious for October 1800 with a full description of actions on the 28th October 1800, these appear to describe the capture by a crewmen from the Phaeton, led by Beaufort, of a Spanish ship San Jose (later renamed Calpe and commissioned as a British sloop-of-war). Beaufort was wounded in the action and his diary ceases at this point. Resumes in 1805 see MET/2/1/2/3/541
Media Type:
- Diary
Language:
- English
Conditions Governing Access:
- Open
Conditions Governing Reproduction:
Owning Organisation:
- Royal Meteorological Society
Location:
- Archive Exeter
Collection:
- Archive Collection
Status:
- Reference Only
Location (Room/Bay):
- Z11.G3
Location Box:
- 210
Online Access: