Orders to Admiral Berkeley, 1809 · British Navy During the Napoleonic Era

Order from the Admiralty to take four ships under his command, January 1809

Order given to Vice-Admiral George Berkeley from the Admiralty instructing him to take the following ships under his command: Zealous, Elizabeth, Implacable, and Norge. The order was given in January 1809 during the Peninsular War in which the Fifth Coalition was formed (Britain and Austria) against Napoleonic France. Most of the fighting took place in and around Spain and Portugal, who were allies of France at the time.

This letter was taken from the Sir George Cranfield Berkeley Papers (call number MS 11) at the Woodson Research at Rice University. The rest of the collection includes correspondences from Sir Arthur Wellesley, troop lists and reports, and correspondences with several members of the Admiralty.

Order from the Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Berkeley in February 1809

An order given to Vice-Admiral George Berkeley, from the Admiralty, instructed him to take a ship, H.M.S. Barfluer, and its captain under his command. The order was given in February 1809 during the Peninsular War in which the Fifth Coalition was engaged against Napoleonic France.

This letter is part of the Sir George Cranfield Berkeley Papers (call number MS 11) at the Woodson Research Center at Rice University. In addition to the orders from the admiralty, the collection includes troop lists and reports and correspondences with Sir Arthur Wellesley and various members of the Admiralty.

Order from the Admiralty given to Vice-Admiral Berkeley in March 1809

An order given to Vice-Admiral Berkeley from the Admiralty instructing him to take the ship H.M.S. Loire and its captain under his command. In the letter, Vice-Admiral Berkeley is informed of the orders that were given to the Loire, which were to sail to the north-western coast of Galicia, a provience of Northwestern Spain, and to supply to loyal local inhabitants with muskets and ammunition to fight the French.

This letter is part of the Sir George Cranfield Berkeley Papers (call number MS 11) at the Woodson Research Center at Rice University. In addition to the orders from the admiralty, the collection includes troop lists and reports and correspondences with Sir Arthur Wellesley and various members of the Admiralty.