Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare General Officer's Gold Medal awarded to General Sir George Beckwith, G.C.B., Commanding the Army at the conquest of Martinique and Guadaloupe

GENERAL OFFICER'S GOLD MEDAL, for Martinique, 1 clasp, Guadaloupe (Lieut. Genl. Sir George Beckwith) fitted with original gold swivel-ring suspender and ribbon buckle, together with a fine contemporary portrait miniature on ivory, nearly extremely fine

George Beckwith was born in 1753, son of Major-General John Beckwith, who had commanded the 20th regiment at the battle of Minden and the brigade of Grenadiers and highlanders in the Seven Year's war. In 1771, he was appointed Ensign in the 37th Regiment and in the same year he embarked for America, where he obtained his Lieutenancy in 1777 and the rank of Major in 1781. From 1776 to1782 he bore a prominent part in the struggle between England and her American colonies, during which he commanded in several surprises of the enemy and in storms and captures of important places, including those of Elizabeth Town and Brunswick in New Jersey.

In 1786 he accompanied Lord Dorchester to Canada, as Aide-deCamp, by whom he was employed both professionally and politically in the American States, and in 1793 he was appointed Adjutant-General to the forces in North America. He was appointed Governor of Bermuda in April, 1797, and in the following July, Commandant of that Island's troops. He was given the Governorship of St. Vincent in 1804, and Barbados in 1808, with the command of the forces in the Windward and Leeward Caribee islands.

It was in 1809, England then being at war with France, that Beckwith organised and commanded the expedition for the conquest of the island of Martinique. Having been reinforced by the 7th, 8th and 23rd regiments under Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, he sailed from Carlisle Bay on 28th January, 1809, and arrived off Martinique on the 29th. The force landed on the 30th of January and completed the conquest of the island on the 24th July. The French 'Eagles' or standards then captured, were sent home by him, and were the first ever seen in England.

For these services he received the thanks of the Houses of Lords and Commons for his gallant conduct in effecting with such rapidity the entire conquest of Martinique and was created a Knight of the Bath. Soon after, Beckwith sailed in command of a force to invade Guadaloupe, the last possession of the French in that part of the world. His troops landed on the 28th January, 1810, and by the 5th February the conquest of the island was completed. He returned to Barbados in July, 1810, and remained there until June, 1814, when after nine year's service in the West Indies, he returned home, and was promoted General. Beckwith's military services were further recognised by the King conferring on him armorial distinctions and the G.C.B., on the 2nd January, 1815. In October, 1816 he was appointed to the command of the forces in Ireland, which he retained until March, 1820. He died in London on 20th March, 1823.