Guide to the Papers of John Gurwood [MSS 236]

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Manuscript Name Papers of John Gurwood
Manuscript Number MSS 236
Last Updated August 2021
Extent 5 cm (1 box + 1 folio)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract A series of letters relating to Gurwood's service in the Peninsular War, 1808-1812, from John Gurwood to his brother Richard Gurwood, and letters from Henry Okey to Richard Gurwood. Also included in this collection is a letter from Henry Okey to Richard Gurwood, dated 1842, and a letter from John Gurwood to Napier, dated 1843.

Date Range of Content

1808-1843

Organization

The collection has been arranged in box then folder order.

Biographical Note

Lieutenant Colonel John Gurwood was born in 1790, and died in Brighton, England on 25 December 1845. During Gurwood's military career he served with the 52nd Regiment from the commencement of the Peninsular War till 1812, when he was promoted to Captain in the African Corps on the 6th February 1812, for distinguised conduct at Ciudad Rodrigo. He then joined the 9th Light Dragoons and was appointed Brigade-Major to the Household Cavalry. He subsequently served at the battles of the Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse and Waterloo. He later served as Deputy-Lieutenant of the Tower of London.

Gurwood was the compiler of Wellington's despatches, general orders and speeches in Parliament including:
The dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, edited by Gurwood in 13 volumes, published by J. Murrary, London, 1834-1839
The dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington during his various campaigns in India, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, the Low Countries and France, compiled from official and other authentic documents by Colonel Gurwood in 8 volumes, published by John Murrary, London, 1952
The speeches of the Duke of Wellington in Parliament, collected & arranged by Colonel Gurwood in 2 volumes, published posthumously by Murray, London, 1854.

References:
Historical record of the Fifty-Second Regiment (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) : from the year 1755 to the year 1858, compiled under direction of the committee; and edited by W.S. Moorsom, published R. Bentley, London, 1860

Administrative Information

Access

The collection is available for research.

Restrictions on Use

No copying is permitted without the permission of the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Papers of John Gurwood, 1790-1845, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, MSS 236, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

This collections was acquired by the Academy Library in 1988.

Access Terms

Personal Names

Gurwood, John, 1790-1845 -- Archives.

Topical Subjects

Peninsular War, 1807-1814 -- Personal narratives, British.

Soldiers -- Great Britain -- Correspondence.

Corporate Names

Great Britain. Army -- Biography.

Occupations

Army Officers

Authors

Container List

Box 1

Box-folder 1
Photocopies of the original letters contained in folio 1 - available for research

Including:
Seven letters from John Gurwood to his brother Dick (Richard) Gurwood, dated from 7 May 1808 to October 1812, relating to John Gurwood's military service in the Peninsula War
Seven letters from Henry Okey to Richard Gurwood, dated from 23 July 1808 to April 1811
One letter to Richard Gurwood from Henry Okey, dated Saturday 11 June 1842 advising him that his brother John is recovering well from an accident
Four page letter by Gurwood to My dear Napier, dated 14 June 1843, concerning inaccuracies in Napier's account in his book entitled History of the war in the peninsula of the 52nd Foot Regiment at Sabugal, together with a typescript copy. Gurwood also copied out and included at the bottom of this letter the contents of a note sent to him about Napier's book "that I was paraded all over England as an Imposter", dated 11 July 1842

Box 2

Folio 1
Originals of the letters - not available for research

Including:
Seven letters from John Gurwood to his brother Dick (Richard) Gurwood, dated from 7 May 1808 to October 1812, relating to John Gurwood's military service in the Peninsula War
Seven letters from Henry Okey to Richard Gurwood, dated from 23 July 1808 to April 1811
One letter to Richard Gurwood from Henry Okey, dated Saturday 11 June 1842 advising him that his brother John is recovering well from an accident
Four page letter by Gurwood to My dear Napier, dated 14 June 1843, concerning inaccuracies in Napier's account in his book entitled History of the war in the peninsula of the 52nd Foot Regiment at Sabugal, together with a typescript copy. Gurwood also copied out and included at the bottom of this letter the contents of a note sent to him about Napier's book "that I was paraded all over England as an Imposter", dated 11 July 1842