Description
This collection contains papers of the families of British diplomat Richard Dawkins (1768-1848) and Jane Catherine Long
(1764-1826). The collection provides a resource for studying an English military and
diplomatic family in the 19th century; specifically the period covering the
Napoleonic Wars and British diplomatic influence in Europe and Central America.
Background
The Long family, originally from Wiltshire, England, was for many years associated
with Jamaica and was part of the governing planter elite of the island. A notable
member of the family, Edward Long (1734-1813), was a colonial administrator, judge
and historian, who wrote "The History of Jamaica" (1774). The Dawkins family was
another British planter-ruling family in Jamaica, and the two families were united
through the marriage of Richard Dawkins (1768-1848) and Jane Catherine Long
(1764-1826). Dawkins held a Treasury appointment (1813) as Auditor of the British
forces' accounts in Spain and Portugal during the Peninsular Wars. Other notable
family members include Robert Ballard Long (1771-1825), a British cavalry officer,
popular with his troops but considered too abrasive toward his superiors and, at the
instigation of the Prince Regent, sent home to England in 1814. Edward James Dawkins
became a British diplomat who served in Europe, Greece and Central America.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.