Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 18002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 6

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Copenhagen 1801, St. Domingo (Abraham Biggs.), traces of brooch-mounting to obverse, contact marks, nearly very fine

Provenance:
Sotheby's, June 1990.

Abraham Biggs served as a Private in the Royal Marines aboard Defiance at Copenhagen, 2 April 1801. She served as the Flagship of Rear-Admiral Thomas Graves, with Captain Retallick in command. She found herself besides the Crown battery, which had thirty-six heavy guns, which poured fire into her for most of the afternoon. Having been set alight on a number of occasions during the battle and exposed for the entirety, the ship was severely damaged and ran aground shortly after the ceasefire. Defiance proved her namesake and suffered 24 killed in action and a further 51 wounded.

Removed to Superb, Biggs was present for the action at St. Domingo, when his vessel was Flagship of Admiral John Thomas Duckworth. During this action, Superb began by firing upon Alexandre and later shared in the destruction of Impérial with Northumberland. Such was the heat of their attack, that a number of shots from Northumberland passed through Impérial and struck Superb. Her crew were able to count up to 60 shot holes by the close of play.

A unique name upon the rolls.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,700