An Oak Tazza with Inset Obverse of the Bronze Medal for Admiral John Jervis, Earl St Vincent and the Battle of Cape St Vincent, 1797.
The medal bears the legend: 'ADMIRAL EARL ST VINCENT G . C . B.'
This medal was part of the medal series on the British victories curated by Mudie.
James Mudie commissioned forty medals to be produced by the leading medallists in Britain and other European Countries. The resultant output was forty medals, each 41mm in diameter, struck at Thomasons factory in Birmingham. This Medal is Circa 1820 and after George Mills.
The condition of the oak possibly indicative of salvaged timber. There is a hand written note attached to the underside but this is mostly illegible.
Admiral John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent (1735 - 1823) joined the Royal Navy in 1749 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1755. He was regarded as a professional fighting Captain and disciplinarian during the Seven Years War and the War of American Independence, was knighted in 1782 and promoted Rear Admiral in 1787.
A Vice Admiral at the outset of the French Revolutionary War when he and General Sir Charles Grey captured Martinique and Guadeloupe in 1794. As an Admiral, he became Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean in 1795. He weeded out Captains and other officers he considered weak in favour of rising stars including Nelson, whom he promoted to Commodore as soon as possible. In 1796 due to the French advance into Italy and Spain's imminent alliance with them he based the fleet at Gibraltar and off Cadiz. When the Spanish fleet sailed early in 1797 he intercepted and defeated it off Cape St Vincent in the action that first brought Nelson to public fame, and was himself created Earl of St Vincent. With Admiralty approval he was responsible for detaching Nelson to reconnoitre the Mediterranean early in 1798 and then reinforcing him with the squadron that defeated the French at the Battle of the Nile that August. Jervis took command of the Channel Fleet in 1800, following illness.
Approximate weight is 298 grams.
Approximate dimensions are 15.5 cm diameter and 8 cm height.
In fair condition. The smaller oak roundel with a split and not sitting flush within the larger roundel. The upper part sitting at a slight angle as per the photos.
