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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 37

The Seringapatam Medal attributed to Colonel F. A. Daniell, 5th Madras Native Cavalry & Governor General's Body Guard

Honourable East India Company's Medal for Seringapatam 1799, 48mm, silver-gilt, Royal Mint issue, housed within silver gilt glazed case, reverse lunette replaced, very fine

Provenance:
Christie's, November 1983, Lot 9.
Spink, April 2009, Lot 1052.

Francis Andrew Daniell was born on 4 June 1774, the youngest son of The Rev. Daniell, Rector of Lifford, Ireland. Entering the East India Company as Cornet in the 5th Madras Native Cavalry in 1792, he first saw action during the Siege and Fall of Pondicherry in August 1793. Made Adjutant in May 1794, he transferred to the 4th Cavalry in late 1796.

It was with this unit that Daniell Commanded a Squadron at the Battle of Malavilly and thence at Seringapatam, with Wellesley to the fore. As Governor-General it was in 1800 that Wellesley re-established the Governor General's Body Guard to be the elite cavalry unit in India. So it was that Daniell was personally selected to be one of just two British Officers, he being the Adjutant and Quartermaster of their force, which numbered 300 native troops and two 6-pounders. He rose to the overall command in September 1802 and he was rewarded with a Captaincy in September 1803. His work was clearly appreciated by Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley and several portraits of him were commissioned, one of which hung in Government House - this being mentioned by Lord Curzon in his work British Government in India.

With the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Mahratta War, Daniell was clearly keen to put his unit into the field and were granted permission to join Lieutenant-Colonel Martindell's force under Lord Lake. The unit are understood to have been at the Siege of Bhurtpore and played their part. A letter from Lord Lakes's Secretary to the Governor General's Secretary gives further detail:

'...he should state for his Lordship's satisfaction, that he was particularly struck with the detachment of the Body Guard, they are in the highest order, both men and horses, an the excellent state the whole Corps is in after so long in the field does Daniell great credit, whose attention to them is great and has continued most effectively to preserve them in the excellent state they are in.'

Daniell was widely praised after the campaign and gained his majority in February 1805 and remained in command of the unit until leaving for home on furlough in February 1806. Returned, he was made Regulating Officer of the Calcutta Militia Cavalry and was made Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1812. Retired from the service in July 1820, he died at home on Baker Street, London on 3 November 1850 - his name does not appear on the Claims List for the Army of India Medal.

The British Library (Asia, Pacific & Africa Collections) holds a bound album of his notes, which includes a pocket-map of the siege-works from the Siege of Bhurtpore.

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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£800