Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of, 1705-1782 and Vaudreuil, Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de, 1698-1778
- 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).
- Extent:
- approximately 8,000 pieces 141 boxes
- Language:
- The records are in English and French .
Background
- Scope and content:
-
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.
The collection is arranged in two series (Vaudreuil and Loudoun Americana) and chronologically within each series.
- Biographical / historical:
-
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).
- Acquisition information:
- The collection was purchased with the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Seven Years' War, 1756-1763.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191