This sub-collection consists of diaries, 1857 to 1859, and letterbooks, 1867 to 1870 and 1875 to 1877, together with official service documents and a few letters and photographs, Sharpe's own copy of 'The Voyage of the Rattlesnake' by John MacGillivray (London, 1852, 2 vols), and typed extracts from an autobiography up to 1849. The letters include one from Sharpe's brother-in-law, William R. Hobson, a lieutenant in HMS FOX, under Captain F.L. McClintock (q.v.), describing the finding of relics of the expedition led by Sir John Franklin (q.v.).

Administrative / biographical background
Sharpe went to sea in HMS BLAZER, under the command of Captain Owen Stanley, in 1845. He entered the Navy in 1846 and sailed with Stanley in HMS RATTLESNAKE on her surveying voyage to Australia, 1846 to 1850. Two years later he was again appointed to the RATTLESNAKE, as mate, and sailed in her to the Arctic to relieve the expedition searching for Sir John Franklin (q.v.). In 1854 he was promoted to lieutenant. From 1857 to 1859 he was in HMS MAGICIENNE and served during the Second Chinese War. He was promoted to commander in 1863 and in 1867 was appointed to command the hydrauic gunboat HMS WATERWITCH during performance trials. In 1868 he was appointed to HMS LAPWING on the west coast of Ireland and then escorted the ships towing the new floating dock to Bermuda, continuing to the West Indies. He was promoted to captain in 1870 and from 1875 to 1878 commanded the Indian troopship HMS CROCODILE. He retired in 1886, became a rear-admiral in 1887 and a vice-admiral in 1892.