Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Portrait Miniature of a General Officer c. 1850, believed to be General Sir James Fergusson, G.C.B., wearing the badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath, the Military General Service Medal 1793-1814 with 8 clasps; and a Field Officer’s small Gold Medal, 55mm x 45mm, watercolour on card, glazed and held in a gilt frame, the frame somewhat dismantled, but the portrait in excellent condition £160-£200

Sir James Fergusson was born in March 1787 and was commissioned Ensign in the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot in 1801, before transferring to the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot. Promoted Lieutenant in 1804, and Captain in 1806, he served in the Light Division throughout the Peninsula War, and was present at the Battles of Vimeria (where he was wounded) and Corunna. He accompanied the Regiment on the Walcheren Expedition in 1809, before returning to the Peninsula, and was present at the Battles of Busaco, Fuentes d’Onor, Ciuda Rodrigo, and Badajoz, where in the latter two battles he formed part of the Regiment’s storming parties, and was wounded on both occasions. For his gallantry at Badajoz he was awarded a Field Officer’s small Gold Medal. He saw further action at the Battles of Salamanca, Nivelle, Nive, and Bayonne.
Fergusson was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1814, and transferred to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot. Transferring to the 88th Regiment of Foot in 1816, he exchanged to the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot in 1825. Promoted Colonel in 1830, Major-General in 1841, and Lieutenant-General in 1853, he commanded the troops at Malta from 1853, before being appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief at Gibraltar in 1855. He retired in 1859, and was promoted to full General on 21 February 1860. He died on 4 September 1865.

For his services in the Peninsula Fergusson received a small Gold Medal for Badajoz, and also the Military General Service Medal with eight clasps. He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1831, and was advanced Knight Commander in 1855, and Knight Grand Cross in 1860.