Pierre Matraire Naval Journal and Documents, 1792-1827 (mostly 1813-1827)

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Creator:

Matraire, Pierre (1791)

Title:

Pierre Matraire Naval Journal and Documents

Repository:

Manuscripts Division

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/rr1721094

Dates:

1792-1827 (mostly 1813-1827)

Size:

1 box and 0.4 linear feet

Storage Note:

Firestone Library (scamss): Box B-000898

Language:

French

Abstract: Consists of a journal and other documents of French second class naval officer Pierre Matraire (b. 1791), regarding his service as an accountant on the frigate L'Adrienne (also known as L'Aurore), and later, under Governor of Egypt Muhammad 'Alī Bāshā (1769-1849) with the Turkish-Egyptian fleet during the Greek War of Independence.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists of a journal and other documents of French second class naval officer Pierre Matraire (b. 1791), regarding his service as an accountant in the French Navy, and later, under Governor of Egypt Muhammad 'Alī Bāshā (1769-1849) with the Turkish-Egyptian fleet during the Greek War of Independence.

Materials primarily span from 1813 to 1827, with earlier documents mostly relating to Matraire's role as accountant for the French frigate L'Adrienne, which was also known as L'Aurore after 1814. Documents from this period consist of statements of receipts and expenditures, lists of daily rations for the ship's personnel, lists of missing objects and surpluses, and other lists generated in the process of examining and certifying the ship's accounts. There are also administrative documents and letters pertaining to Matraire's assignments and reassignments within the French Navy, including a full list of his services from 1803 to 1816.

Matraire left France in 1827 for Alexandria, Egypt, to serve under Muhammad 'Alī Bāshā and his son Ibrāhīm Pasha (1789-1848). The most significant item in the collection is Matraire's fifty-two-page journal of his time aboard Egyptian Grand Admiral Moharram Bey's frigate La Guerrière en route to Navarino Bay (Pylos, Greece) to engage the Greeks and their allies. This account, titled "Journal historique et nautique de la campagne de la flotte turco-egyptienne, entreprise contre les Grecs," details the equipment on board the ship and contains daily entries from the ship's departure on August 5th, 1827, until October 24th. In addition to Alī and Bey, Matraire's accounts mention other figures involved in the Greek War of Independence, including Captain Jean-Marie Letellier (1767-1830) and Admiral Henri de Rigny (1782-1835). Following directions from Admiral de Rigny that all Frenchmen abandon the Turkish-Egyptian fleet to avoid confrontation with French and allied vessels, Matraire left La Guerrière several days prior to the Battle of Navarino and returned on an Austrian ship. Matraire's journal was likely composed from his notes and correspondence after he returned to France. The collection also includes his French passport from March 1827 authorizing his travel to Alexandria.

There are also several items related to Matraire's military honors, as well as to his participation in the Grand Orient de France. Materials pertaining to military honors include a letter and certificate authorizing Matraire to wear the Décoration du Lys, as well as a pin with the fleur-de-lis insignia. Materials regarding Freemasonry include an illustrated certificate of membership in the Saint-Jean Lodge of the Grand Orient de France and an embroidered Masonic stole. Also present is a French assignat from 1792.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Collection Creator Biography:

Matraire

Pierre Matraire was born in Toulon, France, on May 8th, 1791. He was a second class naval officer and clerk who served as an accountant for the French frigate L'Adrienne (also known as L'Aurore). In March 1827, Matraire left for Alexandria, Egypt, to serve under Governor of Egypt Muhammad 'Alī Bāshā (1769-1849). He returned in October of the same year to avoid fighting against his countrymen in the Battle of Navarino. Matraire was also a Freemason active in the Grand Orient de France.

Collection History

Acquisition:: Purchased in 2017 with matching funds provided by the Program in Hellenic Studies with the support of the Stanley J. Seeger Hellenic Fund (AM 2017-143).
Appraisal: No materials were separated from the collection during 2017 processing.
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Kelly Bolding in May 2017. Finding aid written by Kelly Bolding in May 2017.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

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Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

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