CARTWRIGHT, JOHN [SSNE 3982]

Surname

CARTWRIGHT

First name

JOHN

Nationality

SCOT or ENGLISH

Social status

GENTRY

Text source

John Cartwright was a gentleman officer in Russian service. In November 1630 he received a commission to purchase in England 2000 muskets and any other army equipment for use in Russia. This was approved, and on 20 May 1631, Charles I wrote to confirm this to the Tsar. In 1632, Cartwright was instructed to buy 5000 swords and sheaths with belts. Charles I wrote another letter to the Tsar in June that year stating that that the licence had been given to get the swords. Thereafter Cartwright returned to Moscow with the King's letter on the 18th June 1632. It is probable he served during the Smolensk War in the regiment of Alexander Leslie [SSNE 2916].

S. Konovalov, 'Twenty Russian Royal Letters, 1620-1624' in Oxford Slavonic Papers, Vol. 8 (Oxford, 1958), PP.120-123; D. Fedosov, The Caledonian Connection (Aberdeen, 1996). Thanks to Claire McLoughlin for the information from OSP.

Service record

RUSSIA, ALEXANDER LESLIE

Arrived 1630-11-01, as OFFICER

Departed 1632-05-31, as OFFICER

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

RUSSIA, LONDON

Arrived 1632-06-01

Departed 1632-06-18

Capacity DIPLOMATIC AGENT, purpose DIPLOMACY