The papers form part of the collection presented by a descendant, Commander Mackinnon, in 1952. There was a further addition in 1954. In 1968 Mrs Mackinnon presented some letters, a log and some printed material. Hood's papers consist of a log, January to September 1772, and some signal books for the Barfleur and the Aimable. There are also a number of private letters, 1772 and 1793 to 1794, a muster book for the Audacious, 1794, official correspondence, 1793 to 1797, and three signal books for the Hebe. In addition, there are some official service documents and a small collection of documents relating to the mutinies of 1797.

Administrative / biographical background
Alexander Hood, elder brother of Sir Samuel Hood (q.v.) and cousin of Viscount Bridport (q.v.) and Viscount Hood (q.v.), entered the Navy in 1767. In 1772 he joined the Resolution for Cook's second voyage. He became a lieutenant in 1777 and a commander in 1781. In the same year be was made Flag-Captain to Rear-Admiral Samuel (later Viscount) Hood (q.v.) in the Barfleur in the West Indies, and was later given command of the Aimable, a French prize, which he took to England in 1783. In 1793 he commanded the Hebe and in 1794 the Audacious but was compelled in the same year to retire from active service through ill-health until 1797. In this year he was appointed to the Mars and was put ashore at the mutiny at Spithead. He was killed soon afterwards in action.