The papers are primarily concerned with the career of Benjamin Tucker during his employment with Earl St Vincent and in his role as Surveyor General of the Duchy of Cornwall. A substantial part also relate to the naval career of John Jervis Tucker, especially his service on HMS DUBLIN, and his ownership of Trematon Castle, Cornwall, after his father's death.

Administrative / biographical background
BENJAMIN TUCKER (18 Jan 1762-11 Dec 1829): Benjamin Tucker acted as Purser on HMS ASSISTANCE in 1792, and then on HMS POMPEE from Apr 1795. From Jan 1798 he served on HMS LONDON, which from the summer of 1798 was stationed with the Mediterranean Fleet off Cadiz under the command of Earl St Vincent. On discharge from HMS LONDON on 11 Jul 1798, Tucker became Secretary to Earl St Vincent and continued with the Earl throughout his service in the Mediterranean. He was appointed Second Secretary to the Admiralty on 21 Jan 1804 and then again on 10 Feb 1806. From 28 Jun 1808-11 Dec 1829, he acted as Surveyor General of the County of Cornwall. Benjamin Tucker was married twice, first to Jane Lyne in c1798, who bore him seven children, and secondly to Anne Williams. He resided at Trematon Castle, Cornwall. JOHN JERVIS TUCKER, Admiral (25 Mar 1802-14 Mar 1886): John Jervis Tucker entered the Royal Navy in 1815 as a First Class Volunteer. On 12 Sep 1822 he was promoted to Lieutenant. He served on HMS THETIS from 17 Mar 1823 until the ship was paid off in Nov 1826, sailing to Mexico in 1823 with Commisioners of the Admiralty and participating in the Ashantee War in 1824. On 15 Jun 1827 he was promoted to Commander, serving on HMS ARIEL and HMS SEMIRAMIS (1828-1831), and then to the rank of Captain of HMS ROYAL WILLIAM on 28 Jun 1838. He served as Flag Captain of HMS DUBLIN in the Pacific under Rear-Admiral Richard Thomas from 11 May 1841-26 Mar 1845, dealing with the imposition of French administration on the island of Tahiti. From 29 Apr 1854-10 Sep 1857 he was Captain Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard. He became Rear-Admiral of the Blue on 10 Sep 1857, was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the White on 2 May 1860, and to Vice-Admiral on 9 Feb 1864. He was pensioned off on 19 Oct 1864 and was appointed as an Admiral on half pay on 10 Sep 1869. On 24 May 1876 he was made Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall. John Jervis Tucker was the second son of Benjamin Tucker, and owner of Trematon Castle from 1860 until his death in 1886. He married Sabine Ann Young on 16 Oct 1830, who bore him four children. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: The collection also relates to other members of the Tucker family, including: Benjamin Tucker senior, Benjamin Tucker's father; Joseph Tucker (c1760-?), Benjamin Tucker's brother and Foreman of the Shipwrights, Plymouth Dockyard; Anne Tucker (nee Williams) (c1766-?), Benjamin Tucker's second wife and widow; Jedediah Stephens Tucker (17 Jun 1800-Jan 1860), Benjamin Tucker's eldest son who published the Memoirs of Earl St Vincent from his father's papers; Benjamin W Tucker (c1804-?), Benjamin Tucker's third son; Jervis Tucker (1833-?), eldest son of John Jervis Tucker; and the Lyne family, who may be either related to Benjamin Tucker's mother's or first wife's family as they both shared the same surname (the association is not clear).