The Naval General Service medal awarded to Captain James McFarland, Royal Navy, promoted for the Glorious First of June and later severely wounded at the cutting out of a ship from under the batteries at Port Louis, Isle of France in September 1800; he was also present at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in June 1803

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 1 June 1794, 23rd June 1795 (James McFarland, Lieut.) original ribbon, brilliant extremely fine £12,000-£16,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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James McFarland joined the Navy in 1781 and served with the Channel Fleet and on the Newfoundland station until the end of 1785, and served the remainder of the peace on the Home station. In March 1793 he joined Queen Charlotte, Lord Howe’s flagship, and was Acting Lieutenant at the Glorious First of June. For his conduct in this action he was promoted to Lieutenant on 23rd of that month. He fought in the same ship at Lord Bridport’s action with the French fleet off the Isle de Groix on 23rd June 1795. He was subsequently officially commended for his conduct and severely wounded, by a compound fracture of his arm, at the cutting out of a ship from under two batteries at Port Louis, Isle of France, on 12 September 1800. Confirmed in the rank of Commander, having had charge for 13 months of the Penguin sloop at the capture of the Cape, on 18 June 1803, and from the following July until March 1810, was employed in the Sea Fencible service. He was promoted to Captain Retired on 10 September 1840, and died in 1851.