Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

The N.G.S. medal to Lieutenant John Bulford, Royal Navy, who was wounded when the Macedonian was taken, after a long and bloody engagement, by the American frigate United States, an important Presidential Gold Medal action

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Martinique (John Bulford, Acting Lieut.) good very fine and very rare £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals relating to the American War of 1812 from the collection of William G Cheoros.

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John Bulford entered the Navy on 1 November 1796, as a 1st Class Volunteer on board the Royal George 100. From November 1800 until March 1804, he served in the Belleisle 74, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, latterly as Second Master. He then transferred to the Niger 32, in which ship he assisted, 2 May 1806, at the capture of the Spanish schooner El Virgin del Carmen, bound for La Guira with despatches.

In January 1807, he rejoined the Royal George, then flag-ship of Sir John Duckworth, and was present at the ensuing passage of the Dardanelles and destruction of the Turkish shipping. Promoted to Lieutenant on 27 January 1809, Bulford served in the Intrepid 64, at the reduction of Martinique. He was subsequently appointed in December 1809 to the Formidable 98; and in March 1810 to the Orestes 16, in which vessel he aided at the capture, 27 October 1810, of the Loup Garou 16, a French Privateer with 100 men, after a close and gallant action of 30 minutes.

In February 1812 he transferred to the Royal Sovereign 100; and in August 1812 to the Macedonian 48, with 254 men under Captain John Carden. He was slightly wounded (The New Navy List by Haultain states ‘severely wounded’) in the Macedonian, when taken after an heroic resistance of two hours and ten minutes, and a loss of 36 killed and 68 wounded, by the American frigate United States 56, Captain Stephen Decateur, with 474 men, 12 of whom were killed and 70 wounded, on 25 October 1812.

In September 1813, Lieutenant Bulford joined the Astrea 36, Captain John Eveleigh, off the coast of Africa. On 23 January 1814, Captain Eveleigh having fallen in an early part of the engagement, Bulford commanded the Astrea during the greater part of a yard-arm to yard-arm conflict, for upwards of an hour, with the French Etoile 40, and which ultimately terminated in a drawn battle, wherein the British lost 9 killed and 37 wounded, and the enemy 20 killed and 30 wounded.

The gallant Lieutenant John Bulford was paid off on 28 August 1815, and saw no further active service. Sold with comprehensive research.