Griffin, Admiral Thomas (c 1699-1771)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0064 GRI
Held at	: National Maritime Museum   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://collections.rmg.co.uk/ ›
Full title	: Griffin, Admiral Thomas (c 1699-1771)
Date(s)	: [1716-1757]
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 3ft; 91cm
Name of creator(s)	: Griffin | Thomas | c 1699-1771 | Admiral

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Griffin served in the Baltic Fleet, 1716 to 1717, in the WEYMOUTH and then in the PANTHER. He became a lieutenant in 1718 and was in the BARLEUR and ORFORD, Mediterranean Station, until 1720; from 1727 to 1730 he served in the GIBRALTER, the PRINCESS LOUISA and the FALMOUTH on the same station. He was promoted to captain in 1731, served in the West Indies in the Shoreham from 1731 to 1733 and on the Channel Station under Sir John Norris (c 1670-1749) from 1735 until 1740 in the Blenheim, Oxford and Princess Caroline It was in the latter ship that he sailed to join Admiral Vernon's fleet in the West Indies in October 1740. During the abortive attack on Cartagena in 1741 he commanded the BURFORD. Griffin was then at Portsmouth until 1743 in the ST GEORGE. It was during his service in the Captain, 1744 to 1745, that he was accused of an error of judgement, court-martialled but acquitted. He was made rear-admiral, in 1747, when he hoisted his flag in the PRINCESS MARY and went to the East Indies. In the following year he was promoted to vice-admiral and, on his arrival back in England, found himself the object of criticism over an alleged failure to attack eight French ships: he requested a court martial, was found guilty of negligence and suspended from his rank. Although reinstated in 1752, he had no further active employment.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Admiral Thomas Griffin consisting of a full run of logs from 1716 to 1749, letterbooks, 1732 to 1749, with letters inserted in 1751, 1755 and 1757, and books of orders received and issued, 1735 to 1745 There is also a purser's account book, 1742 to 1743.

Access & 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 permanent loan in 1934 by Mr F.J Griffin.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jun 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:
2010-08-26