USS Ontario and USS Dolphin Journals and Logbooks
Scope and Content Note
The journals and logbooks of the sloop of war Ontario and schooner (1821-1835) Dolphin span the years 1817-1821 and consist mainly of accounts relating to the Ontario under the command of Captain James Biddle, with first lieutenant David Conner, on a pioneer mission to the Pacific in defense of American shipping in early 1818, from New York to Rio de Janeiro, around Cape Horn to Valparaíso, Chile, and Lima, Peru, during the Chilean War of Independence and a Spanish blockade. The Ontario journals describe in detail the political situation in Chile as well as the geographical and cultural setting. The journal for the Dolphin, dated September 30-December 30, 1821, is a four-page insertion in an otherwise undated fragment of a journal relating to the Ontario. The Dolphin sailed to the coasts of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile in December 1821 as part of the newly organized Pacific Squadron under the command of Lieutenant David Conner, in company with ship-of-the-line Franklin.
Dates
- Creation: 1817-1821
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The journals and logbooks of the Ontario and Dolphin are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings in the records of the sloop of war Ontario and schooner Dolphin is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Extent
8 items
1 container
1 oversize
2 linear feet
Abstract
USS Ontario and USS Dolphin. Journals and logbooks, mainly of the Ontario, relating to cruises in defense of American shipping in the Pacific during political upheaval in South America.
Arrangement of the Papers
The collection is organized by type of volume or account and therein chronologically.
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The journals and logbooks of the sloop of war Ontario and schooner Dolphin were purchased by the Library of Congress in 1914.
Processing History
The records of the sloop of war Ontario and schooner Dolphin were processed in 1985. The finding aid was revised in 2014.
Source
- Ontario (Sloop of war) (Creator, Organization)
- Dolphin (Schooner) (Creator, Organization)
Subject
- Biddle, James, 1783-1848. (Person)
- Conner, David, 1792-1856. (Person)
- Dolphin (Schooner : 1821-1835). USS Ontario and USS Dolphin journals and logbooks. 1817-1821. (Organization)
- Franklin (Ship of the line) (Organization)
- Ontario (Sloop of war) (Organization)
- United States. Navy--Foreign service--Pacific Area. (Organization)
- United States. Navy--Foreign service--South America. (Organization)
- United States. Navy. Pacific Squadron. (Organization)
Geographic
- Chile--Description and travel.
- Chile--History--War of Independence, 1810-1824.
- Chile--Politics and government--1810-1824.
- Chile--Social life and customs.
- Ecuador--Description and travel.
- Lima (Peru)--Description and travel.
- Peru--Description and travel.
- Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)--Description and travel.
- South America--Description and travel.
- South America--History--19th century.
- Valparaíso (Chile)--Description and travel.
Topical
Uniform Title
- Title
- USS Ontario and USS Dolphin Journals and Logbooks
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division Staff
- Date
- 2014
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
(202) 707-5387