A Guide to the Charles Steuart Papers, 1762-1789
A Collection in
the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Manuscript Number DMS 55.4
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. LibraryColonial Williamsburg Foundation
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USA
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections staff
Administrative Information
Access
There are no restrictions.
Publication Rights/ Restrictions on Use
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.
Preferred Citation
Charles Steuart Papers, Manuscript DMS 55.4, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Acquisition Information
Gift, 1955.
Alternative Form
Also available on microfilm M-1130.
Biographical/Historical Information
Born in Scotland, Steuart was sent to Virginia in 1742 as an apprentice to a Scottish tobacco factor. He was a merchant in Norfolk and Portsmouth. His diplomatic handling of a Norfolk riot led to his appointment as Receiver-General of Customs for the eastern central district and Receiver and Paymaster General of the American Board of Customs. Steuart retired to Edinburgh in 1788 and died there in 1797.
Scope and Content Information
Letters, 1762-1763, between Charles Steuart (1725-1797), merchant in Norfolk, Va., and later receiver general of customs for the Eastern-Middle District of North America, and lieutenant governor Francis Fauquier (1703-1768) concerning the conditions of Don Pedro Bermudez and his party, who were attacked by English seamen while in Portsmouth, Va. Because of Don Pedro's importance as second in command of the Spanish Navy at Havana, and the diplomatic negotiations proceeding between England and Spain, this situation was a sensitive one, and Steuart's diplomatic handling of it is credited with gaining him the position of receiver general of the customs. There is also a letter, February 21, 1763, from Don Pedro's son to Steuart, and a narrative of the so-called "Spanish Affair," signed by Steuart and dated August 16, 1789.
Arrangement
Chronologically arranged.
Index Terms
- Bermudez, Francisco.
- Bermudez, Pedro.
- Fauquier, Francis, 1704?-1768.
- Steuart, Charles, 1725-1797.
- Riots--Virginia-- Norfolk--History--18th century.
- Ships--Equipment and supplies.
- Ships--Maintenance and repair.
- Spain--Foreign relations-- 18th century.
- Spain--Foreign relations--United States.
- United States--Foreign relations--Spain.
- United States--Foreign relations--To 1775.
Persons:
Subjects:
Geographical Names:
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Bermudez, Francisco.
- Bermudez, Pedro.
- Charles Steuart, 1725-1797.
- Fauquier, Francis, 1704?-1768.
- Steuart, Charles, 1725-1797.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Spain--Foreign relations-- 18th century.
- Spain--Foreign relations--United States.
- United States--Foreign relations--Spain.
- United States--Foreign relations--To 1775.