Catalogue description Admiralty: Hydrographic Department: Original Artwork

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Details of ADM 345
Reference: ADM 345
Title: Admiralty: Hydrographic Department: Original Artwork
Description:

This series contains artwork not created specifically for navigation purposes. It includes a pen-and-ink drawing by William Bligh of the formation of the British Fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen. Drawing of ship's positions in harbour with references, assigned William Bligh, captain of HMS Glatton; annotated in ink 'Copenhagen 2 April 1801 Lord Nelson's Attack.', with annotations of all ships in fleet
Date: 1801-1839
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Board of Admiralty, Hydrographic Department, 1795-1856
Physical description: 1 engravings
Dimensions: 35.2 cm x 76.2 cm
Access conditions: Records not yet available
Custodial history: These records form part of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Historic Archive formerly held at Taunton (as an authorised place of deposit under section 4(3) of the Public Records Act, 1958) and transferred to The National Archives commencing 2005.
Accruals: This series is accruing
Administrative / biographical background:

The primary function of the Hydrographic Department, also known as the Hydrographic Office, has always been safety at sea - in particular during military action. However, the survey work it sponsored had additional aims of supporting exploration, colonisation, the monitoring of the slave trade after abolition, and scientific research.

Surveyors and their support staff on board ship, in addition to their survey skills, were also trained to provide navigational information through artwork, diagrams and textual records. Some naval officers recorded extra information which was not required for chart making or Sailing Direction updates, but for reporting purposes on the events and encounters of the voyage.

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