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Auction: 16043 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 31

Documents
Sir George Cockburn
1815 (1 June) Admiralty document on vellum appointing Sir George Cockburn as commander-in-chief at Cape of Good Hope and the island of St. Helena. Bears Admiralty wafer seal and 5/- duty stamp in blue with silver seal and is signed by Sir John Barrow, Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, Sir George Warrender of Lochend and Lord Henry Paulet. Folding creases and some soiling on the reverse.



This was at the time when Napoleon had surrendered and it was the new commander's job to transfer him to St. Helena. Cockburn sailed from Plymouth on 8th August with his flagship the Northumberland, arriving at St. Helena on 16th October. Sir George remained on St. Helena until the arrival of Sir Hudson Lowe, to whom he transferred his charge. A good document relating to the exile of Napoleon.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB (1772 – 1853). As a captain he was present at the battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797 during the French Revolutionary Wars and commanded the naval support at the reduction of Martinique in February 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars. He also directed the capture and burning of Washington on 24 August 1814 as an advisor to Major General Robert Ross during the War of 1812. He went on to be First Naval Lord and in that capacity sought to improve the standards of gunnery in the fleet, forming a gunnery school at Portsmouth; later he ensured that the Navy had latest steam and screw technology and put emphasis of the ability to manage seamen without the need to resort to physical punishment.



It has been suggested that Sir John Barrow was the initial proposer that Napoleon should be sent into excile on St. Helena

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Sold for
£280