Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Napoleonic War Medal awarded to Major-General George Dean-Pitt, K.H., Commanding the Troops in New Zealand 1847-51, late Royal West India Rangers

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Martinique, Albuhera, Badajoz, Vittoria (G. D. Pitt, K.H. Lieut. R.W.I.R. & A.D.C.) the only medal issued to an officer in this regiment, toned, extremely fine £3000-5000

George Dean was born in Ireland or Hampshire in 1781, the illegitimate son of George Pitt, 2nd Baron Rivers, of Stratfield Saye and Sudeley Castle, from whom he took the additional name of Pitt in 1819. He joined the Army as an Ensign in the 42nd Foot on 4 June 1805, and was promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal West India Rangers in December of the same year. He was engaged at the capture of the Danish West India Islands in 1807, and of Martinique in 1809. Promoted to Captain in August 1809, he subsequently served in the Peninsula from 1811-14, and was engaged in the most memorable operations of those eventful years, including the battles of Albuhera, Vittoria, Pampeluna, and the Pyrenees, and also the siege of Badajoz and actions at Usagre and Almaraz. He acted in 1811 as Aide de Camp to Major-General R. B. Long. Placed on half pay in January 1814, as Major in the 1st Provisional Battalion of Militia, he obtained a Majority in the 80th Foot in August 1819, and as Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment from April 1822 until March 1837, when he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Army. He was subsequently employed as Superintendent of the Recruiting Department in London from January 1840 until November 1846, when he received promotion to Major-General. In January 1847 he was appointed to the command of the troops in New Zealand, and as Lieutenant-Governor of New Ulster, a province in the North Island. His service in New Zealand was brief but effective in bringing to a close the First Maori War. Major-General George Dean-Pitt, who had been awarded the K.H. in 1836, died in office on 8 January 1851, aged 70.

Sold with two large oil portraits, both in contemporary gilt frames, these with varying degrees of damage, one of the Major-General in uniform wearing the K.H., approx. 100x90cm overall, and another of his son, later Lieutenant-General G. Dean-Pitt, C.B., Keeper of the Jewels at the Tower of London, as a boy in the barracks of the 80th Regiment, signed lower left corner ‘Major Bunbury, 80th Regiment, Painted 1837’, approx. 79x66cm overall; also a small water-colour portrait of the Major-General in uniform wearing both the K.H. and M.G.S., possibly a study for the oil portrait with M.G.S. added later, in contemporary rosewood frame, 24.5x20cm overall; and a silver oak and acorn spray with pin fitting to reverse, contained in card box inscribed ‘Oak Leaf Spray 80th Regiment’, believed to relate to Lieutenant-General G. Dean-Pitt, C.B.

Please note that this lot is unsuitable for posting.