IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0402 JRE
Held at: Royal Geographical Society
Title: RENNELL, Major James (1742-1830)
Date(s): 1777-1832
Level of description: Collection level
Extent: 1 box, 5 files
Name of creator(s): Rennell | James | 1742-1830 | cartographer | Major
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Born, 1742; captain's servant under Captain Hyde Parker in the frigate BRILLIANT, 1756; action against the French at St Cast, 1758; followed Parker to the East India station, rejoining him as midshipman in the GRAFTON at Madras, 1760; action off Pondicherry, and visits to Trincomalee, Bombay, and Rodriguez Island; assistant Draughtsman or Surveyor to Alexander Dalrymple, East India Company, on an exploratory voyage to the Sulu islands and China , 1762; Madras, 1763; left the to take command of the UNION; command of the NEPTUNE, first superintending troop disembarkation for the siege of Madura, and then sailing in Feb 1764 under owner's orders to Calcutta; practitioner engineer in the construction of the new citadel at Fort William, Bengal army, 1764; Surveyor-General, 1767; returned to England, 1778; published A Bengal Atlas, 1780; Fellow of the Royal Society 1781; Gold Medal, Royal Society of Literature, 1825; died, 1830.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of James Rennell including brief memorandum of the heights of St. Helena, [1777], copy of a letter from Rennell to Sir Joseph Banks, 19 Oct 1817, on Atlantic currents and manuscript index map to charts 'Investigation of currents of the Atlantic Ocean' published in 1832.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
As outlined in the Scope and Content.
Conditions governing access:
Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopying at the discreetion of the Archivist, subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the IBG-RGS Archivist.
Finding aids:
Catalogue available on A2A.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Memorandum presented to the RGS by William Marsden; copy letter pressented to Lord Rennell of Rodd, who passed it to the RGS, 1970.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Prepared by Archives Volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Oxford DNB; Geog. Jnl. Portrait 1930 Vol. 75, pages 289-99.
Date(s) of descriptions: 3rd May, 2001. Jul 2008