Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The China 1842 medal awarded to Captain Charles Tennant, who, as Flag-Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, was witness to the signing of the Nanking Treaty on board Parker’s flagship H.M.S. Cornwallis, and features in Captain Platt’s famous painting of the event; he was also promoted to Commander for his outstanding services on shore during the campaign in China

China 1842 (C. E. Tennant, Flag Lieut., H.M.S. Cornwallis.) original suspension, together with a fine portrait miniature, image approximately 120mm x 95mm, oils on card, in gilt oval frame, the reverse inscribed ‘Charles Tennant, Born 1811 X 1862, By C. G. Dixon’, some light surface spotting, otherwise good condition, the medal good very fine (2) £1,800-£2,200

Sold with an original print of The Signing and Sealing of the Treaty of Nanking, 80cm x 38cm, engraved by John Burnet, F.R.S., after the original painting by Captain John Platt, Bengal Volunteers, this somewhat faded, with light foxing and other signs of age; together with the accompanying key plate, 40cm x 28cm, with the ‘Names of the principal Officers and Official Gentlemen who are represented in the Engraving of the Signing and Sealing of the Treaty of Nanking in the State Cabin of H.M.S. Cornwallis, 29th August 1842.’

Charles Edmund Tennant entered the Navy on 21 August 1824; passed his examination in 1830; and obtained his first commission 19 April 1832. His succeeding appointments were – 21 September 1833, to the Andromache 28, Captains Bernard Yeoman and Henry Ducie Chads, fitting for the East Indies, whence he returned in 1835; – 7 June 1836, to the Imogene 26, Captain Henry William Bruce, in which ship he served for upwards of three years in South America; – and, 27 May 1841, to the Cornwallis 72, as Flag-Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, whom he accompanied to the coast of China. While there he was in attendance upon his gallant chief on every occasion of service, and displayed the most praiseworthy zeal. He assisted at the capture of Amoy, gained the highest approbation for his conduct at the reduction of Chinghae, was mentioned in the despatches of Sir Hugh Gough for his spirited behaviour in the attack upon the enemy’s entrenched camp upon the heights of Segoan, landed at taking of Chapoo and Woosung, and took a prominent part in an attack made upon some Tartar troops who held out in the city of Chin-Kiang-Foo. He was in attendance on Admiral Sir William Parker on the occasion of the signing of the Treaty of Nanking on board the Cornwallis on 29 August 1842, and features in Captain Platt’s famous painting of that historic event. He was advanced in consequence to the rank of Commander on 16 September 1842, was not afterwards employed. He died with the rank of Captain (Retried) on 2 January 1862.