Scope and Contents
The Clinton Papers contain correspondence, letterbooks, financial papers and other material documenting aspects of the lives and military careers of Sir William Henry Clinton (1769-1846) and his brother Sir Henry Clinton (1771-1829). They include hundreds of letters from Henry to William Henry, many written from Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, as well as letters by other members of the Clinton family; journals kept by Sir Henry Clinton, letterbooks of Sir William Henry Clinton, and account books kept by both brothers; bills and receipts; and family papers.
Dates
- 1754 - 1879
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Clinton Papers are the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased by James Marshall Osborn from Hodgson's, 1958; gift of James Marshall Osborn, 1965.
Arrangement
Organized into four series: I. Correspondence, 1754-1829; II. Account Books and Journals, 1762-1871; III. Bills and Receipts, 1767-1830; IV. Other Papers, 1769-1879.
Extent
16.3 Linear Feet (41 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The Clinton Papers contain correspondence, letterbooks, financial papers and other material documenting aspects of the lives and military careers of Sir William Henry Clinton (1769-1846) and his brother Sir Henry Clinton (1771-1829). They include hundreds of letters from Henry to William Henry, many written from Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, as well as letters by other members of the Clinton family; journals kept by Sir Henry Clinton, the letterbooks of Sir William Henry Clinton, and account books kept by both brothers; bills and receipts; and family papers
Sir William Henry Clinton, 1769-1846
Sir William Henry Clinton was the eldest son of General Sir Henry Clinton (1730-1795), who commanded the British forces in North America during the Revolutionary War. William Henry joined the British Army in 1784 and was swiftly promoted, eventually reaching the rank of General in 1830. He served on several secret missions during the Napoleonic Wars and was wounded in Corsica; in 1826-1828 he commanded the British forces in Portugal. In addition to his military career, William Henry Clinton served in the House of Commons and made extensive improvements to his manor of Cokenach. He sought several colonial governorships unsuccessfully during his career, but was forced to decline the governorship of Malta in 1830 due to ill-health. William Henry Clinton married Lady Dorothea Holroyd in 1797; the couple had two sons and four daughters. He died at Cokenach, Hertfordshire, England, on February 16, 1846.
Sir Henry Clinton, 1771-1829
Sir Henry Clinton was the younger son of General Sir Henry Clinton (1730-1795). He joined the British Army in 1787 and took part in the Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to command the Sixth Division in Spain in 1811. Clinton journeyed to England briefly in 1813 to convalesce from an unidentified illness, but returned to Spain to lead his forces in the battles of the Nive, Orthez, and Toulouse. He took command of the Third Division at the battle of Waterloo, and led a division during the occupation of France. In addition to his military career, Clinton was a member of Parliament from 1808 until 1818, working in the interests of his cousin the Duke of Newcastle. Sir Henry Clinton's health deteriorated rapidly after the death of his wife Susan (Charteris) in 1817, and he is said to have become a recluse. He died at Ashley Clinton, Hampshire, England, in 1829.
Processing Information
The collection received preliminary processing and partial cataloging at the time of acquisition. Further organization, rehousing and description were carried out in 2010. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from the original dealer description and from catalog cards. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided at the time of acquisition. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases.
- Account books
- Brothers -- Great Britain
- Clinton family
- Clinton, Henry, 1771-1829
- Clinton, William Henry, Sir, 1769-1846
- Diaries
- Great Britain -- History, Military -- 19th century
- Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1800-1837
- Great Britain. Army
- Letter books
- Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815
- Receipts (financial records)
- Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Clinton Papers
- Author
- by Diane J. Ducharme and Olivia Hillmer
- Date
- October 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.