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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 971

x The Unique Three-Clasp Combination Naval General Service Medal to Commander E. Johnston, Who Served in Nelson´s Flagship H.M.S. Elephant at the Battle of Copenhagen 2nd April 1801; in H.M.S. London at the Capture of the Marengo 1806; and was Later Made Prisoner-of-War Naval General Service 1793-1840, three clasps, 17. Mar: Boat Service 1794, Copenhagen 1801, London 13 March 1806 (Edwd. Johnston, Lieut. R.N.), issued as Johnson, last two letters corrected to read Johnston, some scratching below rim, otherwise good very fine, in a custom-made velvet and leather fitted-case, together with a miniature framed portrait of the recipient wearing his medal, similarly housed in leather case, and the recipient´s tie pin Estimate £ 8,000-10,000 Commander Edward Johnston (1777-1856) was born at Larne, County Antrim, and entered the Royal Navy as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Boyne, 1.1.1794. He took part in the operations in Martinique, under the command of Vice Admiral Sir John Jervis, and was involved in erecting shore batteries prior to the bombardment of Fort Bourbon; was present at the bombardment of Fort Royal; and was in personal command of a boat at the capture of the French 28-gun frigate Bienvenue and the subsequent storming of Fort Royal; promoted Midshipman, and saw action at the capture of Guadeloupe and St. Lucie. Transferred to H.M.S. Undaunted, and then served in H.M.S. Asia, in the North Sea; H.M.S. Edgar, in the Mediterranean; and H.M.S. San Josef, in the Baltic; transferred H.M.S. St. George, and served as a volunteer aboard Vice-Admiral Nelson´s flagship H.M.S. Elephant at the Battle of Copenhagen 2.4.1801; promoted Lieutenant 4.4.1801; attached Sea Fencible Service in Ireland 1803-1805. Appointed Lieutenant, H.M.S. London, 98-guns, and present in the action, in the company of H.M.S. Amazon, of the capture of the French 74-gun ship-of-the-line Marengo and the 40-gun frigate Belle Poule 13.3.1806. At daybreak the London got alongside the Marengo, when approaching the Azores from the East Indies en route to France, engaged her, and, after a running fight lasting five hours, in which the London suffered 10 men killed and 22 wounded, the Marengo hauled down her colours. Appointed to the command of H.M.S. Magpie 11.6.1806, in which he ran aground during a violent storm off the French coast 19.2.1807, and together with his entire crew was taken prisoner-of-war. Released in 1814, and honourably acquitted of all blame for the disaster; promoted Commander 27.8.1814. Edward Johnston served as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Boyne (one of only four recipients from this ship, and one of only 29 recipients of this clasp) for the Boat Service action 17.3.1794; as Master´s Mate on the strength of H.M.S. St. George at the Battle of Copenhagen 2.4.1801; and as Lieutenant in H.M.S. London in the action of 13.3.1806 (one of only 27 recipients of this clasp).

Sold for
£17,000