Orders, Decorations and Medals

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 13 Feb Boat Service 1810, Off Tamatave 20 May 1811 (Alexr. Henning. Mid:) name engraved in serif capitals similar in style to that used by Hunt & Roskell on wide suspension L.S. & G.C. medals, very fine £1,200-£1,500

Provenance: Debenhams, March 1902; Glendining’s, June 1909 and February 1927; Sotheby, November 1912; Spink, July 2000.

Alexander Henning is confirmed on the rolls as a Midshipman aboard the Christian VII for the boat service action on 13 February 1810 (20 clasps issued), and in the same rank aboard the Galatea for the action off Tamatave on 20 May 1811 (79 clasps issued).

Alexander Henning entered the navy as a 2nd Class Volunteer aboard the Christian VII on 17 May 1808, and was appointed Midshipman in August of the following year. While in her he served for some time under the flag of Sir Edward Pellew; and on two occasions, 20 January and 13 February 1810, he was employed in boat affairs of considerable gallantry; assisting, on the first, at the capture and destruction of part of a convoy of 30 sail, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry, and within a stone's throw of the batteries, in the Maumusson passage; and, on the second, at the destruction, with the loss of 2 men killed and 3 wounded, of three deeply-laden chasse-marées, which had grounded on a reef between Rochelle and Ile d'Aix, and were protected by nine French boats, each carrying a 12-pounder carronade and 6 swivels, and rowing from 20 to 30 oars.

Removing to the Galatea in September 1810, he saw further action off Tamatave, Madagascar, when, between 7-9 May 1811, the frigates Phoebe and Galatea, and brig-sloop Racehorse, had a distant sighting with the French 40-gun frigates Renommée, Clorinde and Néréide, off the Isle de France, whilst the Astrea, was lying in Port-Louis. On 14 May 1811 the Astrea, Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse, sailed from Port-Louis for Tamatave, Madagascar, arriving on the 20th, and, sighting the French squadron, made chase; a severe action ensued resulting in the capture of the Renommée, and the subsequent surrender of the Néréide on the 25th at Tamatave. In the action on the 20th, Mr Henning was slightly wounded in the left arm, whilst the Galatea, besides being cut to pieces in her hull, masts, and rigging, sustained a total loss of 16 men killed and 46 wounded. The Néréide, as the Madagascar, and Renommée, as the Java, were added to the Navy List.

In October 1812, Galatea departed Ascension with 2 whalers and on 31st sighted 2 U.S. frigates, whose attention she escaped in exchange for the loss of one of the whalers. Henning was discharged from the Galatea in May 1814, and in the ensuing period until his promotion to Lieutenant on 11 September 1815, he was lastly employed in the West Indies on board the Venerable 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Philip Charles Durham, and the Spider sloop, under Captain Robert Caulfield. He was married in December 1838, while in command of the Earl of Hardwick Indiaman.