The 2-clasp Naval General Service medal awarded to Lieutenant Samuel Spencer, Royal Navy, Master’s Mate aboard the Victory at the battle of Trafalgar, one of just 18 officers from the Victory who lived to claim the medal

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Egypt, Trafalgar (S. Spencer, Master’s Mate.) good very fine £20,000-£24,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

Glendining’s, March 1922; Mackenzie Collection, Glendining’s, June 1934; Spink N.C., October 1956.

Confirmed on the roll as Midshipman in the Active at Egypt and as Master’s Mate aboard the Victory at Trafalgar. Just 18 officers from the Victory lived to claim the medal.

Samuel Spencer was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1779 and entered the Navy on 9 November 1796, as Able Seaman on the Prevoyante, stationed on the coast of North America. He became Midshipman in August 1797 and, in April 1800, joined the Active. After serving in that frigate for three years and four months, including during operations on the coast of Egypt, he became Master’s Mate of the Maidstone, Captain Hon. George Elliott, under whom he was severely wounded whilst in pursuit of a French privateer in 1803. On 11 July 1804, he was present in the boats of Maidstone, Narcissus and Seahorse at the cutting out and destruction of a convoy of 12 settees in the Bay of Hieres, off Toulon. In August 1804, Spencer joined H.M.S. Victory, flagship of Lord Nelson, and in her, on his return from pursuing the combined squadrons to the West Indies, he shared in the glories of Trafalgar, in respect of which he was promoted to Lieutenant on 18 October 1806. He saw further service in the Queen off Cadiz and served subsequently as Agent of Transports at Algiers until the close of 1837. Samuel Spencer died at Birkenhead, Cheshire, in December 1850, at the age of 71.