Lot 2
Boat Action 29th August 1800 ‡
Clandestine Operations - Inc The D.J. Croll Medal Collection & Other Properties | M26002
Auction: 16 September 2026 at 10.30 BST
Description
The Outstanding Naval General Service Medal and Sultan’s Medal (Order of the Crescent) Egypt 1801 awarded to 2nd Lieutenant, later Major-General, John Wright Royal Marines K.H. Who Saw Action in Lord Nelson’s attack on Rota and the Blockade of Cadiz in 1797, the Decisive Victory in Aboukir Bay, He Was Present at the Actions at Naples, the Capture of Ovo and Novo, the fort at St Elmo and the fortresses at Capua and Guata. He was part of the attack that captured the French Privateer Guepe in the harbour of Vigo. He was present at the action of Algiers 27th August 1816 comprising, Naval General Service Medal, 1793-1840 4 clasps, Nile, Boat Service 29 Aug 1800, Algiers, Egypt, (John Wright, 2nd Lieut. R.M.), “John” Engraved, the remainder officially impressed, Egypt Clasp Loose on Ribbon, fitted with Silver Top Buckle, Sultan’s Gold Medal, 36mm, Straight Bar Suspension Gold Top Buckle, fine and better (2)
Clasps -
Nile 2nd Lieut H.M.S. Bellerophon (Clasps To Ship 4 Medals to Officers 19 to ORs
9 August Boat Service 1800 Captain R.M. H.M.S. Renown (Clasps to Ship 1 Medal to Officers 6 To ORs)
Egypt 1st Lieutenant R.M. H.M.S Renown (Clasps To Ship 1 to Officers 11 to Ors)
Algiers Captain R.M. H.M.S. Queen Charlotte (Clasps to Ship 38 to Officers 189 to Ors)
John Wright was born in 1777 and enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on the 21st of April 1796. He served on H.M.S. Bellerophon from the 26th of September 1796 until the 1st of May 1800, and during that time was involved in the Channel Fleet under Lord Bridport and was engaged in conflict between the British and French in the Mediterranean.
He saw action in Lord Nelson’s attack at Rota and the blockade of Cadiz in Spain in 1797 and in the decisive victory at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean Coast, off the Nile Delta of Egypt.
John served in this action between the 1st and the 3rd of August 1798 when the British Fleet led by Sir Hoaratioa Nelson decisively defeated the French under the leadership of Vice-Admiral Francois-Paul Brueys d’Aigalliers.
John Wright took part in the 1799 campaign at Naples, the capture of Ovo and Novo, the fort at St Elmo, as well as the fortresses at Capua and Guata. Wright was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant on the 10th of June 1799.
On the 29th of August the following year (1800), aboard H.M.S. Renown, john was part of the attack and capture of the French privateer Guepe in the harbour of Vigo. While still aboard the Renown, he served off the Coast of Egypt during the period of the 8th of March to the 2nd of September 1801 under the command of Sir Ralph Abercrombie. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 27th of July 1808.
On the 27th of August 1816 2when John Wright was serving aboard H.M.S. Queen Charlotte, he was involved in the action off Algiers in which the English and Dutch fleets successfully attacked the town under the Command of Lord Exmouth. Following the action John was promoted to the rank of Major on the 16th of September 1816.
He rose through the ranks rapidly, and with increasing periods spent at Chatham and Woolwich Headquarters, he was promoted to Major on the 15th of May 1834, Lieutenant Colonel, 10th of July 1844. John Wright retired on full pay on the 1st of May 1849 and was promoted Major-General on the 11th of November 1851. He died at Portsmouth on the 16th of February 1860 in his 84th year.
The Sultan’s Gold Medal. Egypt 1801. Sultan Selim III of Turkey awarded medals to British Officers and N.C.O.s who served during the Egyptian Campaign of 1801. Officers received gold medals and N.C.O.s received silver ones. John Wright’s gold medal measures 1.4 inches - the smallest of the four sizes.
Note from the D.W. Payne Collection – “N.B. – As the Egypt Bar was not sanctioned until 1850 many separate awards of medal/bars are recorded.”
Sold with Copy Service Papers Copy Medal Rolls. Newspaper Obituary notices -Also entitled to The Royal Geulphic Order (K.H.)
Provenance
Payne Collection 1911
Spink Feb 1913.
Remarks – Forename Re-Engraved
