Loudoun papers : Americana
Finding aid prepared by Olga Tsapina.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens
© 2014
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
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San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
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Title: Loudoun papers : Americana
Dates: 1682-1780
Bulk dates: 1755-1758
Collection Call Number: mssLO 1-6999
Creator:
Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of,
1705-1782
Creator:
Vaudreuil, Pierre de Rigaud, marquis
de, 1698-1778
Extent:
approximately 8,000 pieces
141 boxes
Repository: The Huntington Library,
Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts
Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The personal and official papers of
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (1705-1782): commander-in-chief of British forces
in America during the Seven Years War and Indian War and titular governor of
Virginia. Also, the personal and official papers of Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de
Vaudreuil (1698-1778), Governor of Trois Riviéres (1733-1743); Governor of Louisiana
(1743-1755); Governor and Lieutenant General of Canada (1755-1760).
Language of Material: The records are in English and
French.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
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[Identification of item]. Loudoun Papers : Americana, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
The collection was purchased with the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family
through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (1705-1782) was commander-in-chief of British
forces in America during the Seven Years War and Indian War and titular governor of
Virginia. He was recalled to England in March of 1758, following the downfall of his
patron, Duke of Cumberland. He served in Portugal in 1762 and was promoted to
general in 1770.
Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil (1698-1778) was Governor of Trois Riviéres
(1733-1743); Governor of Louisiana (1743-1755); and Governor and Lieutenant General
of Canada (1755-1760).
Personal and official papers of Lord Loudoun accumulated during his command of
British forces in America from 1756 to 1758 constitute the greater part of the
collection. The bulk of the collection deals with the campaigns of 1756- 1757,
including the fall of Fort Oswego, Fort William Henry, and Loudoun's expedition
against Louisbourg, etc. Included are materials documenting Loudoun's relations with
colonial authorities, institutions, and society; frontier defenses; relations with
the Six Nations, Sir William Johnson and Edmond Atkin. There are also papers
relating to the command of Edward Braddock (1755) and William Shirley (1755-1756) as
well as Loudoun's successors James Abercromby and Jeffrey Amherst. The papers
include official and personal correspondence, reports, returns of troops, ordnance,
stores, accounts, orders, appointments and other documents; Loudoun's communications
with the Office of the Secretary at War, Southern Department of the Office of
Secretary of State, Board of Trade, as well as his letters to William Augustus, the
duke of Cumberland. The collection also contains some items relating to the American
Revolution as reported in letters from American loyalists and British officers.
Correspondents include James Abercromby, William Wildman, viscount of Barrington,
John Calcraft, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, William Denny, John Forbes,
Henry Fox, George Montagu-Dunk, the earl of Halifax, George II, Sir Charles Hardy,
Sir William Johnson, Thomas Pownall, James Prevost, Sir William Shirley, John
Stanwix, Daniel Webb, George Washington , Benjamin Franklin, and others.
The papers (1740-1753) of Pierre de Rigaud were acquired by Lord Loudoun in 1756
through the agency of Thomas Pichon, Vaudreuile's secretary in Louisiana and a
double agent. Pichon had obtained the papers from Francois Pierre de Rigaud, brother
of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who was captured at sea by the English in June 1755.
Vaudreuil's personal and official correspondence (including 3 volumes of
letterbooks), his communications with the Ministry of the Marine during his term as
governor of Louisiana; other papers relating to Indian and colonial affairs.
Correspondents include Jacques Pierre Taffanel, marquis de la Jonquiere; Antoine
Louis Rouille, comte de la Jouy, Barthelemy (?) Macarty-Mactique, Jean Frederic
Phelypeaux, comte de Maurepas, and Honore Michel de Villebois.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series (Vaudreuil and Loudoun Americana) and
chronologically within each series.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Seven Years' War, 1756-1763.
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New
France) -- Sources.
Great Britain -- Colonies -- America --
History -- Sources.
Great Britain -- History -- 18th
century -- Sources.
United States -- History -- Colonial
period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Sources.
United States -- History -- French and
Indian War, 1754-1763 -- Sources.
Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil 1740-1753
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun 1756-1757
Returns Box 4