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Series

Board of Trade: Meteorological Department: Meteorological Charts relating to Royal...

Catalogue reference: BJ 6

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BJ 6

Charts prepared by Admiral Robert Fitzroy relating to the storm of October 1859 in which the iron ship Royal Charter was wrecked. The charts can be consulted in their published form in BJ 6/ 3

Full description and record details

Reference

BJ 6

Title
Board of Trade: Meteorological Department: Meteorological Charts relating to Royal Charter Storm
Date

1859-1861

Description

Charts prepared by Admiral Robert Fitzroy relating to the storm of October 1859 in which the iron ship Royal Charter was wrecked. The charts can be consulted in their published form in BJ 6/ 3

Related material

For other papers of Admiral Robert Fitzroy, see BJ 7

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Creator(s)
Board of Trade, Meteorological Department, 1854-1867
Physical description

3 papers and volumes

Subjects
Topics
Trade and commerce
Maps and plans
Navy
Administrative / biographical background

The Royal Charter was one of the first iron ships powered by both steam and sail. In October 1859, during a storm, it was wrecked off the Anglesey coast, North Wales, with the loss of 459 lives.

These charts were prepared by Admiral Robert Fitzroy, Chief of the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade, for the subsequent inquiry. The Royal Charter storm profoundly affected Fitzroy and strengthened his belief in the more immediate use of meteorological information for forecasting. The event led to the introduction of storm warnings in the following year.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C2869/

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This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

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Board of Trade: Meteorological Department: Meteorological Charts relating to Royal Charter Storm

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