Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill of Hawkestone and of Hardwicke: A fine gold fob seal, circa 1820, the two colour gold mount decorated with a stippled and roundel border, reeded above and with C-scroll supports topped by foliage beneath the suspension fitting, the carnelian intaglio engraved with an achievement of arms beneath a baron’s coronet, incorporating the collar chains of the Orders of the Bath and the Portuguese Tower and Sword, length 44mm, dimensions of base 33 x 28mm.


£600-£800

General Rowland Hill, Ist Viscount Hill, GCB, GCH (1772-1842)

Rowland Hill pursued a highly distinguished military career during the course of the Napoleonic Wars.

He saw action at the siege of Toulon (1793), Aboukir Bay (1801), commanded forces at numerous sieges and engagements in both Portugal and Spain in the Peninsular War and, later, in France.

At Waterloo, he led the charge of Sir Frederick Adam’s brigade against Napoleon’s Imperial Guard.

From receiving his commission as lieutenant in 1791, he rose steadily through the ranks to eventually being appointed second in command to the Duke of Wellington and, on the latter’s retirement from active service on his election as prime minister, replacing him as General Commander of British forces.

Created Baron Hill of Almarez & of Hawkestone (1814) and Baron Hill of Almarez & Hardwicke (1816), he was much decorated and, amongst other awards, was made Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of the Bath, The Tower & Sword (Portugal) and the Royal Guelphic Order, Knight Commander of the Orders of Maria Theresa (Austria) and Military William (Netherlands) and Knight of St George (Russia).

It is said that Wellington acknowledged that he could always rely upon him and that he was loved and respected by his men, earning the epithet ‘Daddy Hill’.