Lot 757
Naval Action off Tory Island, Co. Donegal 1798, Sir John Warren WM medal 1798 by T Wyon Snr.
Ancient, British and World Coin Auction - Auction 121 | C25002
Auction: 9 July 2025 at 10:00 BST
£204
Description
Bust three-quarters facing, uniformed, SR. J.R. WARREN BARONET . K.B. THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US, rev. A Naval engagement between two ships, THE SISTER COUNTRY AGAIN RESCUED FROM INVASION, in Exergue: BREST SQADRON DEFEAT'D OFF TORY ISLAND OCTOBER. 12 .1798. 38mm/19.82gm. (BHM 456; Eimer 896), Good Extremely Fine with more or less full lustre, a little discolouration on forehead.
Footnote
The Battle of Tory Island took place on 12 October 1798, off the coast of County Donegal in Ireland. It was a part of the wider French Revolutionary Wars with the French in this case trying to bring the struggle home to the British in Ireland. Another French force had already successfully landed under general Humbert and proceeded to join the rebel Irish forces in their struggle against the British. However, by the time of the Battle of Tory Island, the French invaders and their Irish allies had already been defeated and captured. Having already allowed one landing, the British were determined not to allow a second and scout ships detected the invasion force under Jean Bompart consisting of one ship of the line and nine frigates. The British commander Sir John Warren pursued with his much larger force of three ships of the line and five frigates, picking the French ships off as they fled. Only three French frigates managed to escape, with the rest captured along with the soldiers stationed aboard them. The battle marked the last attempt by any continental power to land troops onto the shores of Ireland. The battle was later recognized in 1847 with a clasp stating, "12th October 1798" attached to the Naval General Service Medal.
