{"product_id":"original-british-napoleonic-wars-letter-signed-by-john-jervis-1st-earl-of-st-vincent-from-gibraltar-ordering-survey-of-hms-thalia-dated-1799","title":"Original British Napoleonic Wars Letter Signed by John Jervis, 1st Earl of St. Vincent From Gibraltar, Ordering Survey of HMS Thalia - Dated 1799","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent (9 January 1735 – 13 March 1823) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. Jervis served throughout the latter half of the 18th century and into the 19th, and was an active commander during the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He is best known for his victory at the 1797 Battle of Cape St. Vincent, from which he earned his titles, and as a patron of Horatio Nelson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a fantastic letter signed January 30th, 1799, from John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent to Major General Martin \u0026amp; Respective Officers of Ordnance. The letter is ordering a survey of the H.M.S. Thalia following Captain Lord Henry Paulet’s representation that the gunpowder “is much damaged, and a great part of it unfit for Service”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe letter measures 8 x 13” with the normal fold markings, with minor tearing but no other issues. The letter was signed aboard the\u003cstrong\u003e HMS Souverain, Gibraltar, 30 January 1799\u003c\/strong\u003e. Jervis signs as commander of the Mediterranean Fleet. Between 1797 and 1799, Jervis set himself the task of improving the dockyards and defenses of Gilbraltar including building a new Victualling Yard and Water Tanks to replenish his ships. After the Battle of the Nile, the dockyards, under Jervis’ watchful eye, managed to successfully repair most of the fleet. He relinquished the command in June 1799.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn outstanding letter that will do well with framing in double-sided glass. Ready to frame and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJervis was also recognised by both political and military contemporaries as a fine administrator and naval reformer. As Commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean, between 1795 and 1799 he introduced a series of severe standing orders to avert mutiny. He applied those orders to both seamen and officers alike, a policy that made him a controversial figure. He took his disciplinarian system of command with him when he took command of the Channel Fleet in 1799. In 1801, as First Lord of the Admiralty, he introduced a number of reforms that, though unpopular at the time, made the Navy more efficient and self-sufficient. He introduced innovations, including block making machinery at Portsmouth Dockyard. St Vincent was known for his generosity to officers he considered worthy of reward, and his swift and often harsh punishment of those he felt deserved it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJervis' entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography by P. K. Crimmin describes his contribution to history: \"His importance lies in his being the organiser of victories; the creator of well-equipped, highly efficient fleets; and in training a school of officers as professional, energetic, and devoted to the service as himself.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44999469400133,"sku":"ONAC261077","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/09DBB8DD-B121-4A3F-B324-A9133A3D5199.jpg?v=1778699216","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-napoleonic-wars-letter-signed-by-john-jervis-1st-earl-of-st-vincent-from-gibraltar-ordering-survey-of-hms-thalia-dated-1799","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}