Papers of the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres
Item
Country
GB
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
92 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1JN
Contact information: phone number
0044 0131 623 3876
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
manuscripts@nls.uk
Reference number
Acc.9769
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Papers of the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Earls of Crawford and Balcarres
Date note
14th century/20th century
Language(s)
fra
eng
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
Papers of the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres mainly comprise records concerning their estates in Fife and Lancashire but also include documents on the creation of the "Bibliotheca Lindesiana", the management of estates in Jamaica, and the literary, diplomatic, and political activities of the family. This collection contains documents regarding Isaac Sasportas' plot to invade Jamaica in 1799, as well as the respective trial, which ended with his execution in December 1799 (Personal Papers, 23/10/1176–1188). From Saint-Domingue, Sasportas had planned an invasion of British Jamaica with the aim of emancipating enslaved Africans. Still, this plan ended up being leaked by Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture.
Archival history
This collection was transferred from the John Ryland University Library on November 1, 1988, and deposited by Lord Balniel.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Earl of Crawford heads the house of Lindsay, whose origins date back to the barons of Crawford, who flourished in the 12th century. This house has included several individuals who have played leading parts in the history of Scotland.
In the early 19th century, after the death of George Lindsay, the 22nd Earl of Crawford (1758-1808), the earldoms of Crawford and Lindsay were separated. The earldom of Crawford remained dormant from 1808 to 1848, when the House of Lords adjudged it to James Lindsay, 7th earl of Balcarres. James' father, Alexander, the 6th earl of Balcarres (1752-1825), was with the English troops in America during the struggle for independence, and was governor of Jamaica from 1794 to 1801.
In the early 19th century, after the death of George Lindsay, the 22nd Earl of Crawford (1758-1808), the earldoms of Crawford and Lindsay were separated. The earldom of Crawford remained dormant from 1808 to 1848, when the House of Lords adjudged it to James Lindsay, 7th earl of Balcarres. James' father, Alexander, the 6th earl of Balcarres (1752-1825), was with the English troops in America during the struggle for independence, and was governor of Jamaica from 1794 to 1801.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Access, restrictions
Permission from the depositor is required to access and for reproduction of this collection.
Finding aids
Detailed finding aids are available in the Special Collections Reading Room.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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