Ross, correspondence

This material is held atScott Polar Research Institute Archives, University of Cambridge

  • Reference
    • GB 15 Sir John Ross/Correspondence
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1812-1856
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 64 letters

Scope and Content

  • MS 1152;D Letter to Sir Francis Beaufort, 10 July 1829 to January 1833 [Long narrative account of his progress on HMS Victory, British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1829-1833] 10 leaves, holograph
  • MS 651/1;D Letter to Captain Humphrey of Hull, 12 April 1833 [Including other papers relating to Ross] 8 leaves, Photostat
  • MS 954;D Letter to George Lamb, 11 September 1832 [Regarding medicines to be used for cholera] 2 leaves, holograph (Xerox)
  • MS 581/1;D Letter to Dr John Lee, 5 May 1846 [Mention of John Barrow and James Clark Ross] autograph
  • MS 945/1-45;D Letters (43) to Dr John Lee, 1850 to 1856 [Mainly family matters, mention of Arctic exploration and scientific matters] 104 leaves, holograph (Xerox)
  • MS 999/6/1-11;D Letters (8) to George Ross (brother), 1816 to 1827 [Family matters and mention of Arctic exploration] 12 leaves, holograph (Xerox)
  • MS 276;D Letter to the Right Honourable Lords of His Majesty's Treasury, 20 March 1829 [Request supplies of duty free coke, British Northwest Passage Expedition, 1829-1833] holograph (Photocopy)
  • MS 438/31;D Letter to Sir William Edward Parry, 14 November 1820 [Regarding success of Parry's Arctic voyage] holograph
  • MS 581/1;D Letter to John Wright, February 1834 [Regarding the British Northwest Passage Expedition, 1829-1833] 4 leaves, autograph
  • MS 999/7/1-6;D Letters (6) to various persons, 1812 to 1849 [Regarding Lady Ross, mention of a Naval engagement at Copenhagen] 7 Leaves, holograph (Xerox)

Administrative / Biographical History

The correspondence covers general Arctic exploration with specific mention of the British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1818 (led by Ross), the British Northwest Passage Expedition, 1829-1833 (led by Ross) and the search expeditions mounted by the Admiralty and private individuals for the missing British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1845-1848 (leader Sir John Franklin).

The collection also contains family correspondence and mention of Ross's non polar naval career.

Arrangement

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient

Related Material

Letters by Sir John Ross can also be found amongst Back collection and the Richardson-Voss collections held by the Institute

  • MS 395/63/1-4;BL ROSS, Letters (4) to George Back, 1833 to 1836 [Regarding Arctic exploration] 4 leaves, holograph
  • MS 1503/35/3;RV ROSS, Extract of letter to Admiralty, 21 January 1847 [Offering assistance in search of Franklin]
  • MS 1503/35/4;RV ROSS, Further extract of letter to Admiralty, 27 January 1847 [Suggest procedure and urges expedition in regard to Franklin]