U.S.A. Presidential ‘Somers’ Medal 1846, by C. C. Wright, 57mm., silver (P. J. Gunn, Capt. F’Castle, H.M.S. Daring) with eyelet for ring suspension, slight edge bruising and contact marks, very fine, scarce £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Soon after hostilities began in the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-48 the U.S. Navy began a blockade of the Mexican Ports in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the smaller ships in Commodore David Conners’ naval squadron assigned to this task was the 10-gun brig Somers. The Somers was ably commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Raphael Semmes who later came to fame as the celebrated captain of the Confederate cruisers Sumter and Alabama.

On 10 December 1846 disaster struck the Somers when on blockade duty off the Mexican port of Vera Cruz. Whilst under full sail chasing a blockade runner, she capsized in a sudden squall. Boats from American, British, French and Spanish warships in the vicinity were immediately despatched to the rescue. This prompt action saved many lives, however 39 men, nearly half the crew, went down with the ship.

The vessels involved in the rescue were the British frigate Endymion, the corvette Alarm, and the brig Daring; the French frigates Mercure and Pylade; the Spanish corvette Loisa Fernandez and the U.S. sloop John Adams.

By the resolution of Congress, 3 March 1847, a medal was prepared for award to the officers and men, in gold and silver, of the foreign warships in the harbour of Vera Cruz, ‘who so gallantly and at imminent peril of their lives, aided in rescuing many of the officers and crew of the U.S. brig Somers ...’ Ten medals were struck in gold.

Ref. Wreck of the U.S. Brig “Somers” Medal 1846, by B. T. Simpkin, L.S.A.R.S.J. No. 6, p.21-23; and Communication from J. Boddington, L.S.A.R.S.J. No. 8, 57-59.