The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Five: The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1816, complete with original wide swivel-ring suspension and ribbon buckle, white enamel slightly chipped on one reverse arm; Crimea 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lord G. Paulet, Captn. H.M.S. Bellerophon) contemporary engraved naming; Legion of Honour, Knight 4th Class, breast badge in gold and enamels; Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class neck badge in silver, gold and enamels, loop on reverse of Crescent suspension has been adapted for wearing as a breast badge; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, fitted with replacement Crimea suspension, generally good very fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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The Right Honourable Lord George Paulet, was born on 12 August 1803. He was the third son of Charles Ingoldsby, 13th Marquis of Winchester; brother of Lord William Paulet, Lieutenant Colonel 68th Regiment, and of Lord Frederick Paulet, an Officer in the Coldstream Guards; and brother-in-law of Captain William Ramsden, R.N., and Sir Charles Des Voeux, Bart.

George Paulet entered the Royal Naval College on 6 February 1817; and embarked on 18 December 1819, as Midshipman, on board the LIFFEY stationed in the Channel. From October 1820 until January 1824 he served in the Mediterranean and again in the Channel in the CAMBRIAN, RACEHORSE, and ACTIVE 46. He then passed his examination and on 9 February 1825, at which period he had been serving for upwards of six months in South America on board the BLANCHE 46, he was made Lieutenant into the JASEUR. Attaining the rank of Commander on 28 February 1828, he was next, from 4 March 1830 until paid off on 2 January 1834, employed in that capacity on board the NAUTILUS, in which vessel, after having served in the Channel and off the coast of Ireland, he was stationed in and off the rivers Douro and Tagus during the whole of the civil war in Portugal, from July 1832, to October 1833, and subsequently off the north coast of Spain at the commencement of the hostilities in that country. His Lordship, prior to the NAUTILUS being put out of commission, had been advanced, 18 November 1833, to the rank of Captain. His next appointment was 28 December 1841, to the CARYSFORT, fitting for the Pacific, where, in February 1843, certain indignities having been offered by the King of the Sandwich Islands, Kamehameha III, to Her Majesty’s subjects resident in his dominions, Lord George felt it his duty to institute demands, which led to the whole of the group being provisionally ceded to him. He accordingly retained possession of them, in the name of Queen Victoria, until 31 July following, when, by order of Rear Admiral Thomas, the Commander in Chief, they were restored to their former Government. The CARYSFORT afterwards conveyed Queen Pomare, with 50 of her relatives and suite, from Tahiti to Raiatea, one of the leewardmost of the Society Islands. The CARYSFORT then returned to England and was paid off in June 1845.

He was next appointed to the Command of BELLEROPHON, Mediterranean, 7 November 1850, and made an A.D.C. to the Queen 1854-56. Whilst in BELLEROPHON he took part in the Crimean War 1854-55 and was present at the bombardment of Fort Constantine, Sebastopol. For these serves he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 5 July 1855, an Officer of the Legion of Honour (France) and also received the Order of Medjidie 3rd Class. He received his Crimea Medal from the hands of Queen Victoria during a ceremony held on the 18 May 1855 at the old Parade of the Horse Guards, being one of eight Flag Officers and Captains thus honoured. Promoted to Rear Admiral on 21 July 1856 to Vice Admiral on 3 April 1863 and to Admiral 20 March 1867, he was placed on the Retired List in 1868 and died on 22 November 1879.