A Fine Lloyd's Patriotic Fund Trafalgar Sword Of £100 Value To Philip Chas. Durham Esq.R, Captain Of H.M.S. DefianceDated 21st Octr., 1805
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Find your local specialistA Fine Lloyd's Patriotic Fund Trafalgar Sword Of £100 Value To Philip Chas. Durham Esq.R, Captain Of H.M.S. Defiance
Dated 21st Octr., 1805
Dated 21st Octr., 1805
78 cm. blade
Footnotes
The presentation inscription reads: 'From The Patriotic Fund At Lloyds To Philip Chas. Durham Esqr. Cap.tn Of H.M.S. Defiance For His Meritorious Services In Contributing To The Signal Victory Obtained Over The Combined Fleets Of France And Spain Off Cape Trafalgar On The 21st Oct.r 1805.'
Philip Charles Durham was born in Largo, Fifeshire in 1763 and entered the navy in July 1777 seeing much action in America, the Mediterranean and the West Indies. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1782 and in 1792 with the rank of Commander, he was appointed to the Spitfire. It was at this time that he was awarded the first piece of plate given by Lloyds, valued at 100 guineas and was promoted to post rank. He was appointed to the Anson (46) in 1794. In 1798 after capturing La Loire (46) he obtained the thanks of Parliament and was presented by the Duke of Clarence with his own sword and belt. In 1801, whilst in command of the Endymion (40) he bought home a convoy of 10 Indiamen from St. Helena for which he was awarded by the Court of Directors a piece of plate valued at 500 guineas.
In May 1803 he took command of the Defiance (79) and took part in the battle of Trafalgar where he was slightly wounded. He saw further action in the Mediterranean on the Renown (74). He was promoted Rear Admiral in 1810 and in 1813 appointed to the chief command of the Leeward Islands. On his way out he captured two frigates, went on to clear the area of American cruisers and took part in the reduction of Martinique and Guadeloupe. In 1819 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral and to full Admiral in 1830. In 1836 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. He was member of Parliament for Queensborough in 1830, and for Devizes between 1835 and 1836. He died in Naples on 2 April 1845. His portrait hangs in the Painted Hall, Greenwich
H.M.S. Defiance was built on the Thames and commissioned in 1794; until 1799 she suffered with a number of mutinous crews but subsequently saw much action in the Mediterranean, Copenhagen, Finisterre, Trafalgar, L'Orient and was the ship from which Wellington landed at Coruna. She took part in further actions with distinction until being paid off at Chatham in 1813
Provenance
Sotheby's London, Modern Sporting Guns and Firearms; Arms, Armour and Militaria, 8 December 1988, lot 434
Literature
Commander W.E. May, R.N. and P.G. Annis, Swords For Sea Service, 1970, p. 70
The original case for the sword was sold Phillips Scotland, The Meldonfoot Collection, 1 October 1991, lot 162
