The papers in this sub-collection relating to Rear-Admiral John Spratt Rainier mainly consist of logs from the periods of his commands at sea between 1795 and 1811, relating to HMS SWIFT, HMS CENTURIAN and HMS NORGE. There is also some loose material, including papers relating to Antigua Dockyard, and orders received during his command of HMS NORGE in the North Sea.

Administrative / biographical background
John Spratt Rainier was born at Sandwich, Kent, in 1777, son of Daniel Rainier and his wife Margaret Rainier née Sleath. As a junior officer he served in the East Indies. After becoming a lieutenant in 1794 he joined HMS SUFFOLK, the flagship of his uncle Admiral Peter Rainier (1741-1808). He was promoted locally to the rank of commander and then commanded the sloop HMS SWIFT, 1795 to 1797, as part of his uncle's squadron at the seizure of the Dutch possessions of Amboyna, in the Moluccas, and Banda Neira. Rainier was promoted to captain in 1796, first appointed to HMS VINDICTIVE and then the ex-Dutch flagship HMS DORDRECHT. He then commanded HMS CENTURION, 1797 to 1805, in the East Indies and later in the Red Sea, following the French invasion of Egypt. After a gap in his service between 1805 and 1808, he commanded HMS NORGE in the Mediterranean from 1808 to 1812, then in the North Sea until 1814. He was a Member of Parliament for Sandwich, 1808 to 1812. He became a rear-admiral in 1819, and thereafter presumably retired. His second name sometimes appears as 'Sprat'.