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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 24

Naval General Service 1793-1840, one clasp, 4 Novr. 1805 (William Black, Lieut.), good very fine, with the remains of the original riband, in a shagreen case Estimate £ 4,000-4,500 William Black served as Lieutenant in H.M.S. Aeolus as part of Commodore Sir Richard Strachan´s squadron, when he captured four French ships of the line, off Ferrol on the north coast of Gallicia, Spain, 4.11.1805. Four Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action. Captain William Black, R.N. joined the Royal Navy, April 1793, and served as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Leviathan (Captain Lord Hugh Seymour) for the investment of Toulon and in Lord Howe´s action of 1.6.1794; he removed with his Captain to H.M.S. Sans Pareil and over three years served as Midshipman, Master´s Mate and Second Master and was present with him in Lord Bridport´s action with the French fleet off Ile de Groix, 23.6.1795; served as Acting Lieutenant H.M.S. Penelope (Captain Hon. C. Paget), 1798-1799, before rejoining Lord Seymour, who had been nominated Commander-in-Chief in the Leeward Islands; briefly served as Acting Lieutenant in H.M.S. Unite, including witnessing the surrender of the Dutch colony of Surinam, before returning to Lord Seymour´s flag-ship, the Prince of Wales, March 1800; he removed once again with Lord Seymour to the Sans Pareil, July 1801; after service in H.M.S. Prince he was appointed to H.M.S Aeolus (Captain Lord William Fitzroy), July 1804; he fought in the latter during Sir Richard Strachan´s action, 4.11.1805; appointed First Lieutenant H.M.S. Egyptienne (Captain Hon. C. Paget), he commanded the boats of the latter in taking a letter of marque of greatly superior force; removed with his Captain in the same capacity to H.M.S. Cambrian, April 1807; took part in the expedition to Copenhagen, August-September 1807; appointed Flag Lieutenant, H.M.S. Polyphemus, to Rear-Admiral B.S. Rowley, Commander-in-Chief on the Jamaica station, May 1808; promoted to the command of the Sloop Racoon, November 1809, returning to England in January 1815; Captain 1814; retired October 1846. Provenance: Spink November 2003

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