Diaries of Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne and his sons, 1822-1855, in the Newcastle (Clumber) Collection

The diaries of the 4th Duke of Newcastle (Ne 2F 1-8) begin after the death of his daughter, Anna Maria (1808-1822), and his wife, Georgiana (1789-1822), in 1822 and continue until shortly before his death in 1851. The entries are detailed, and concern all aspects of his domestic and public life, including comments on news and reports of contemporary events. Family members are referred to frequently, providing information about his daughters, Charlotte, Georgiana, Caroline (later Ricketts) and Henrietta (later D'Eyncourt), and his sons. He was estranged from his eldest son, Henry, Lord Lincoln, and there are references to both Lord Lincoln and his wife Susan, Lady Lincoln, from whom he was subsequently divorced.

Lord William Pelham-Clinton wrote the journal which records the grand tour of Europe made by himself and his younger twin brothers, Lord Charles and Lord Thomas Pelham Clinton, from 13 July to 24 September 1837. They visited Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, northern Italy and Austria. The diary includes many comments on scenery, buildings, and artistic works (Ne 2F 9). A companion volume written by his brother, Lord Charles, describes the same tour (Ne 2F 11). A diary of another grand tour in Europe undertaken by Lord William Pelham-Clinton in 1839-1840 is also present (Ne 2F 12).

Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle, recorded his observations during his tour of the Crimea from 27 June-16 October 1855, which he undertook following his resignation as Secretary for War (Ne 2F 10).

Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne (1785-1851), succeeded to the title in 1795. Although he did not pursue political ambitions at a national level, he was deeply concerned with the major issues of his day and corresponded widely with those in public office. He was an influential figure in local politics and took an active interest in his estates. His immediate family ties were close; he had strong views on the raising of children, and felt deeply the death of his wife, Georgiana, in 1822.

Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne (1811-1864), succeeded his father in 1851. He spent most of his life in public service and was Secretary of State for War during the period of the Crimean War. In 1855 he resigned that particular office and embarked on a tour of the Crimea, hoping to witness for himself the state of the army and the environment in which it was operating.

Lord William Pelham-Clinton (1815-1850), was the fourth son of the 4th Duke of Newcastle. In 1837, following an indiscreet affair, he was sent on the Grand Tour with his brothers, Lord Charles (1813-1894) and Lord Thomas (1813-1882).

The volumes are arranged by writer, and then chronologically. Later acquisitions (Ne 2F 11-12) are arranged at the end of the series.

Accessible to all readers.

Copyright in all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.

In the Reading Room, King's Meadow Campus:

Old typescript Catalogue, 2 pp

At the National Register of Archives, The National Archives, Kew:

Old typescript Catalogue, 2 pp

Online:

Catalogue available from the website of Manuscripts and Special Collections, Manuscripts Online Catalogue.

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).

Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

The Newcastle diaries form a sub-group of the Newcastle (Clumber) Collection, which includes extensive further papers of the individuals in question (see Ne). The main series were received as a separate accrual from the 9th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne in August 1966.

The diary of Lord Charles Pelham-Clinton (Ne 2F 11) evidently become separated from this series and was subsequently acquired by purchase from a German bookseller in 2001. The second grand tour diary of Lord William Pelham-Clinton (Ne 2F 12) also became separated, and was purchased at auction in 2009.

See the fonds level record for the whole Newcastle collection (Ne), the other constituent parts of the Newcastle Collection (Ne A-X; Ne C; Ne 3; Ne 4; Ne 5; Ne 6), and related collections (NL; NS; NPE; NPC; NN)

A description of a journey from London to Aix-la-Chapelle, 1837, by Lord William Pelham-Clinton is deposited at Birmingham University Library.

A diary of the 4th Duke's last illness (1850-51) is kept at the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.