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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 10

(x) Naval General Service 1793-1840, 3 clasps, 1 June 1794, Camperdown, Copenhagen 1801 (John Baker.), good very fine

Provenance:
Glendining's, November 1965.

Only five Naval General Service medals issued with this number and combination of clasps; five men of this name on the Medal Roll, but this the only 3-clasp medal, which is confirmed as entirely correct.

John Baker served afloat from February 1793, joining the 74-gun H.M.S. Montagu on 15 February that year and remaining with her until November 1795. Between the aforementioned date and 2 June 1794 he is noted as 'Captain's Servant' - the captain of Montagu being James Montagu who, supposedly, made a special request to command a ship of the same name! Participating in the Battle of the Glorious First of June, Montagu was towards the rear of the British line and fought a long-range gunnery duel with the French Neptune, which caused little damage and casualties of only four killed and 13 wounded - however, one of those killed outright was Captain James Montagu, who was hit by a roundshot early in the action; Montagu had the unfortunate distinction to be the only British captain killed outright during the battle, and this also explains why Baker is simply noted as 'Ordinary Seaman' from the following day.

Later removing to H.M.S. Magnificent and H.M.S. Fame, in February 1797 Baker served aboard the 74-gun H.M.S. Russell, in which ship he saw action at the Battle of Camperdown (11 October 1797) and the Battle of Copenhagen (2 April 1801). At this latter action, Russell ran aground but still managed to effectively engage the Danish vessel Provesteenen and, when she surrendered, sent boats to take possession of her. In October of that year, Baker was transferred to the 36-gun frigate H.M.S. Glenmore; members of her ships' company had recently staged a mutiny against their captain, which resulted in several courts-martial and hangings, but by the time Baker joined the ship things seemed to have calmed down. Discharged in June 1802 (likely as a result of the Treaty of Amiens), he does not appear to have served at sea again when war broke out in 1803.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2400