Papers and correspondence of Rear-Admiral Brian Egerton, 1886-1973

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 62 P237 and P238
  • Dates of Creation
      1950-1968
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      2 boxes

Scope and Content

The papers supplement other material of Egerton's already held in the Imperial War Museum. They deal with work on mathematical problems, especially those involved in artificial satellites and space exploration, in which Egerton became interested in retirement. He planned several popular books on these subjects; notes and drafts survive but they were not completed for publication. Egerton's technical note Spiral and Elliptical Orbits, published in 1957, attracted considerable controversy and correspondence which forms the bulk of the papers. There is a little correspondence with leading mathematicians and physicists.

Administrative / Biographical History

Egerton retired from the Royal Navy in 1935, after a distinguished career on the Mining Staff of the Admiralty and as Director of Torpedoes and Mining. He was ADC to King George V, and was recalled to the Navy in 1939, commanding HMS Vernon, Torpedo, Mining and Electrical Training Establishment.

Arrangement

By section as follows: Notebooks, Drafts and working papers, Correspondence. Index of correspondents.

Access Information

The Department of Documents is, subject to the discretion of the Keeper, open to all members of the public over the age of 15. Access to some collections is governed by special conditions which readers are bound to observe.

Other Finding Aids

Printed catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Rear-Admiral Brian Egerton (1886-1973), by J. Alton and H. Weiskittel, CSAC catalogue no. 29/6/75, 4 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath.

Custodial History

Deposited in the Department of Documents, Imperial War Museum in 1975.

Related Material

The collection supplements material already held by the Imperial War Museum