Lot 1
Small Naval Gold Medal - The Boarding and Capture of the Hermione Frigate 1799 ‡
Clandestine Operations - Inc The D.J. Croll Medal Collection & Other Properties | M26002
Auction: 16 September 2026 at 10.30 BST
Description
The Small Naval Gold Medal (believed to be an official duplicate issue) awarded to Admiral Sir Edward Hamilton, Bart, Kt, K.C.B. for the Boarding and Capture of the Frigate Hermione in which action he was severely wounded comprising Small Naval Gold Medal, (Edward Hamilton Esqre Captain of H.M.S. Surprise 26th Oct. 1799. The Hermione Recaptured), gold top buckle on ribbon, very fine (1)
The Medal, believed to be an official duplicate Small Naval Gold Medal, was awarded to Captain Edward Joseph Hamilton, later Admiral Sir Edward Hamilton. The wear on the ribbon would indicate that it was frequently worn by the recipient. The medal is accompanied by a 14-page booklet, containing an account written by Captain Hamilton entitled “A Narrative of the Circumstances that led to the Attempt and the particulars of the Boarding and Capture of the Hermione Frigate in 1799”, this with a Black and white drawing of Captain Hamilton wearing the Gold Medal as a frontispiece. There is also a boxed and framed hand painted colour miniature of Sir Edward as a child. This portrait may have been painted when Sir Edward was about seven, just before he went to sea with his father, Voce Admiral Sir Charles Hamilton. Initials inside the frame of the miniature “W.W.”, may have been the miniaturist, Willaim Wood.
Edward Hamilton was born on the 12th of March 1772 and between 1779-1781 at the age of 7 years, went to sea in the West Indies with his father. After completing his schooling, he re-entered the Navy in 1787 as a Midshipman and rapidly rose through the ranks. He was a lieutenant on the 29th of October 1793, and Commander of the Comet in 1796. On the 3rd of June 1797 he was Captain of the small Frigate Surprise, undertaking convoy service to Newfoundland and Jamica. During the next 18 months he captured and destroyed over 80 enemy ships – a most impressive record.
In October 1799 Captain Hamilton was sent to Puerto Cabello to look for the Hermione and her crew of 400 – a former British ship which had been captured by the Spanish and re-named. It was a considerable embarrassment to the Royal Navy.
Against all odds, Hamilton and a small number of his crew boarded the Hermione and supported by reinforcements from his crew, fought a fierce battle and displayed outstanding bravery to capture the ship. One hundred and nineteen Spaniards were killed, 97 were wounded and only 12 British crew were lost. Hamilton was severely wounded –
“The wounds I received myself were as follows: - My shins bruised by the slip of an anchor. A cut with a sabre on the thigh, but not deep; and on the other above the knee by a Pike, or some sharp instrument, on the quarter deck, when knocked down and the brass bound musket broke over my head; a very serious blow on my left ear, and a sever contusion on my left arm, by warding off the blow, or I might have been killed by it, and it is rather wonderful my arm was not broken by the great force of the blow. I could not move my arm for several days, and my left jaw and head were so swollen that I could eat nothing but spoon meat for some days after.”
A Note by “D. Croll”
This miniature is believed to be of Admiral Sir Edward Hamilton, Bart, K.C.B. when a boy. It was purchased at auction for £230 in 1974 along with the duplicate Small Naval Gold Medal for the capture of the “Hermione” which the recipient most probably wore to save wear and tear on the original medal. A copy of Hamilton’s “Narrative” of the action was included.
Sold with Many copied Papers, the Original Miniature and copy of Sir Edward’s narrative. Medal 14 carat gold with Lunettes
