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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 431

(x) Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Guadaloupe (Richd. Compton, Master's Mate.), pitting to obverse and several small edge knocks, very fine

Richard Compton was born in Paignton, Devon, on 30 December 1784 and entered the Royal Navy in October 1803 at the tender age of nine years old. His entry in A Naval Biographical Dictionary indicates he saw a great deal of service during the Napoleonic Wars, early-on noting him to have been aboard the 24-gun H.M.S. Champion: "for four consecutive years...in frequent and very hazardous conflict with the enemy's flotilla and batteries between Ostend and Havre". He later served on board the 32-gun Solebay and the Statira (38); it was with this latter vessel that he was present during the Walcheren Campaign (1809) and the invasion & capture of Guadaloupe (1810), for which he earned this Medal and Clasp which are confirmed upon the Roll.
Subsequently appointed Acting-Lieutenant on a number of other vessels, including the 38-gun heavy frigates Blonde and Macedonian (this latter ship was later captured by the U.S.S. United States), he passed his examination for Lieutenant in 1811 and was confirmed in that rank on 13 February 1815. Lucky to continue serving at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent vast reduction in the strength of the Royal Navy, after a period of Half-Pay Compton went on to become First Lieutenant in the Alert (8), and was still employed up until 1831, when "a severe attack of gout compelled him to invalid" (A Naval Biographical Dictionary, refers). His entry further indicates at that time that he was married with no less than seven children.

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Sold for
£2,700

Starting price
£1200