This blog will be a little bit different than my usual musings. I have just finished reading a new book by Sim Comfort, Matthew Boulton’s Naval Medals, it is a most interesting read, and I feel compelled to draw attention to it. Sim Comfort, an American
Read more →
I’ve previously written about aspects of the Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 in this blog series (click to follow link). In this blog, I will focus on a special category of clasp for the medal, those awarded for Boat Service actions. Students of the NGS medal will know
Read more →
I’ve previously written a blog (click link to view it) on the medals issued by Denmark for the defense of Copenhagen at Nelson’s famous battle on April 2nd 1801. In this blog, I will focus on the British Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 (NGS), which was
Read more →
Background Here, I will only give a brief introduction to The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, as it is officially named. The outstanding authoritative work by James Risk[2] should be consulted for more details, also a series of future blogs by ChrisC, will go into
Read more →
I keep returning to the Naval General Service 1793-1840 medals in the recent Goddard sale at DNW. This choice collection continues to reveal fascinating aspects of the medal and the history it represents. In this blog I will focus on the British West Indian campaign
Read more →
In a previous blog I wrote about the British Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 (NGS) awarded to the most common type of vessel in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars, the Cruizer-class brig-sloop of 18 guns. Medals to these smaller vessels have always fascinated me, as
Read more →
The Battle of Copenhagen on April 2nd, 1801 is commemorated on the British side by a clasp to the Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 (NGS), issued in 1849. It falls in the category of NGS clasps approved because a commissioned officer was promoted, as opposed to it
Read more →
The recent sale at DNW in London of the John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals, was a fantastic event for any collector interested in medals of the Napoleonic period – of course, particularly for those interested in the British Naval General Service medal 1793-1840 (NGS). I was able to attend
Read more →
• Examination : in 1797 (PRO ADM 6/95/170-171).
• Lieutenant : on 16 December 1797 (2).
• Commander : on 27 April 1801 (13).
• Post-Captain : on 5 March 1808.
• Died: on 5 October 1832.
Sources:
Marshall, vol ix, p. 295.
The Complete Navy List 1793-1815 (CD).
Received the Small Naval Gold medal for Lissa, and also claimed this NGS clasp along with six other clasps. One of 3 confirmed 7 clasp NGS medals. Served on the ‘Flag Officer’s Committee” overseeing the institution of the NGS medal 1847-50. For more details see: O’Byrne (1949)
KCB 2 Jan 1815, Kt.B 29 Jun 1815, GCB 5 Jul 1855
Died on 8 Jan 1869
Received the Small Naval Gold medal for Surprise wh. Hermione, and claimed the NGS medal with clasp for this action as well. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849)
Kt.B 1 Feb 1800, KCB 2 Jan 1815, Bt 26 Jan 1819
Died on 21 Mar 1851
Received the Small Naval Gold Medal for Victorious wh. Rivoli, and also claimed the NGS with this clasp. His medal group sold at Spink in Jun 1982. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849)
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 5 Jul 1842
Died on 7 Jul 1851
For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 13 Nov 1827
Died on 28 Apr 1851
Admiral Robert Stopford (1768-1847)
Small Naval Gold medal for St. Domingo. He directed the operations that resulted in the capture of Java on 8 August 1811. His last active post, in his early seventies, was as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet during the Syrian War. Claimed the NGS medal with six clasps, the medal is in the NMM. Colonel of the Royal Marines on 9 November 1805. Governor of Greenwich Hospital from 1 May 1841 till his death. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 6 Jun 1831, GCMG 10 May 1837
Died on 25 June 1847
A veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Received the Small Naval Gold Medal for St. Vincent, which was stolen in 1900 from Greenwich Hospital (with Nelson’s Gold medals). Claimed the NGS medal with ‘St. Vincent’ clasp, the medal is in a private collection in the UK. Shown here as a GCB with Gold Medal. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 17 Nov 1830
Died on 28 Oct 1849
The man who burned Washington
Claimed a six clasp NGS medal, supposedly the only medal issued to a Rear Admiral. The medal is in the NMM. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 20 Feb 1818
Died on 19 Aug 1853
Sir Thomas Byam Martin, wearing the KCB star only, having been invested, but not installed in the Order yet.
A veteran of the American Revolutionary War. As Captain of HMS Santa Margarita captured the French frigate Tamise, June 1796. Commanding HMS Fisgard he captured the French Immortalité off Tory Island in October 1798. In the Baltic in August 1808, as Captain of HMS Implacable, took part in the capture the Russian ship Sewolod. Served on the ‘Flag Officer’s Committee’ overseeing the institution of the NGS medal in 1847-50. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 3 Mar 1830, Kt.B 1814, KS (Sweden) 1808
Died on 21 Oct 1854
