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National Maritime Museum

Christopher, Captain John (b 1820)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0064 CHS

Held at: National Maritime Museum

Title: Christopher, Captain John (b 1820)

Date(s): [1865-1877]

Level of description: Collection

Extent:

Name of creator(s): Christopher | John | b 1820 | Captain RN

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Captain John Christopher joined the Royal Navy in June 1839 and served as a seaman on board HMS CAMBRIDGE until November 1841. In March 1842 he commenced a career of over thirty years in the Merchant Service. In 1850 he made a successful claim for a Master's Certificate of Service (his application form is among the papers of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen at the Museum). He served in a number merchant ships including the barque MINMANUETH of Scilly 1865 to1872 in the American trade. In 1872 he left the sea due to ill health although he served as Mate in the REAPER in 1876. He then turned his attentions to shipowning. In 1875 he purchased shares of the schooner LIZZIE MORTON of St Ives in 1879. He also became involved in the foundation of the Hain Steamship Company of St Ives in 1879. The Christopher family continued to play a leading part in the Hain Steamship Company; John Christopher's grandson Sir George P Christopher becoming Chairman and Managing Director and his grandson Captain J Christopher becoming the Company's Marine Superintendant.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Capt John Christopher, consisting of certificates and letters of reference, a disbursement book of the MINMANUETH 1865 to 1871, an account book relating to the LIZZIE MORTON 1875 to 1877 and a rough notebook 1870 to 1871.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Finding aids:

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were deposited on loan in 1972 by Christopher's grandson, Captain J Christopher. In 1984 the latter's daughter, Mrs Janet de Gaynesford presented them in memory of her father who died in 1979.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Related material:

A copy of Norie's 'A Complete Epitome of Practical Navigation' and Christopher's sextant, previously on loan, have now been returned to Mrs de Gaynesford.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Archivist's note: Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jul 2011.

Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: 2011-03-30


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Ships | Vehicles | Transport

Personal names
Christopher | John | b 1820 | Captain RN

Corporate names
Royal Navy

Places