Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Shannon Wh Chesapeake (James French.) toned, very fine £6,000-£8,000

Provenance: Sold by order of the son of the late Australian collector Edward Kennedy, a Gallipoli veteran who died in 1966.

James French is confirmed on the roll as an Ordinary Seaman aboard Shannon in her historic Gold Medal action at the capture of the U.S.S. Chesapeake off Boston Harbour on 1 June 1813. Two other men of this name are shown on the rolls; one a Boy aboard H.M.S. Africa at Trafalgar, the other a Landsman aboard H.M.S. Mercury in the action with a Spanish convoy ‘Off Rota’ in April 1808. This latter medal (one of only 19 issued) was sold in the Jubilee Collection at Glendining’s in May 1992.