The papers include a letterbook of the Rose, 1784 to 1785; sailing directions and orders of battle, 1800 to 1801, and three letters concerning the possibility of mutiny in the Channel Fleet, 1800. See item level records for further details.

Administrative / biographical background
Whitshed, who until 1791 had the name Hawkins, entered the Navy in 1773 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1778. Becoming both commander and captain in 1780, he was appointed to the ROSE in home waters from 1784 to 1786. In 1799, having been promoted to rear-admiral, he was sent to join Earl St. Vincent (q.v.) in the Mediterranean, serving subsequently in the Channel from 1800 to 1801. Whitshed became a vice-admiral in 1804, was Commander-in-Chief at Cork between 1807 and 1810, when he was promoted to admiral, and was later Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, 1821 to 1824. He became Admiral of the Fleet in 1844.