The British Naval Gold Medal (1793-1815)
The rare British Naval Gold Medal was commissioned by King George III after the Battle of the Glorious 1st of June to reward senior officers of the Royal Navy for command in battle. The Gold Medal continued to be awarded during the period 1793 to 1815 for actions during the French Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.
Large Naval Gold Medal Awarded to Admiral Thomas Graves, Esq. for Defeat of the French Fleet at the Battle of the Glorious 1st of June
Small Naval Gold Medal Awarded to Captain Sir William Hoste for Defeat of the French Fleet at the Battle of Lissa
A total of 22 Large and 117 small medals were awarded during the period of its existence. The large Gold Medals measured 51mm in diameter and the small Gold Medals, 33mm. Award of the large medals was reserved for Admirals, Commodores and Captains of the Fleet. Smaller medals were awarded to Captains of a ship. A separate medal was awarded for each action. Lord Nelson, for example, was awarded three large Gold Medals for the battles of St. Vincent, the Nile, Trafalgar (posthumously).
The obverse of the medal features Britannia, being crowned with a laurel wreath by the figure of Victory, while holding a spear and standing on the prow of ancient galley. To the left and behind the figure of Britannia, is a shield charged with the Union Flag. The reverse is engraved with the rank and name of the recipient and the event and date for which the medal was awarded. The large medal is bordered by a wreath of oak and laurel.
Award of the Naval Gold Medal was discontinued after 1815 when would-be recipients of the Naval Gold Medal became eligible for the expanded Order of the Bath.
The rare British Naval Gold Medal was commissioned by King George III after the Battle of the Glorious 1st of June to reward senior officers of the Royal Navy for command in battle. The Gold Medal continued to be awarded during the period 1793 to 1815 for actions during the French Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.
Large Naval Gold Medal Awarded to Admiral Thomas Graves, Esq. for Defeat of the French Fleet at the Battle of the Glorious 1st of June
Small Naval Gold Medal Awarded to Captain Sir William Hoste for Defeat of the French Fleet at the Battle of Lissa
| BATTLE | COMBATANTS | DATE | LG | SM |
| French Revolutionary War | ||||
| Battle of the Glorious First of June | Britain vs. France | June 1, 1974 | 8 | 17 |
| Battle of Cape St. Vincent | Britain vs. Spain | February 14, 1797 | 6 | 15 |
| Battle of Camperdown | British North Sea Fleet & Dutch | October 11, 1797 | 2 | 15 |
| Battle of the Nile | Britain vs. French at Aboukir Bay | August 1, 1798 | 1 | 14 |
| Recapture of HMS Hermione | Britain vs. France | October 25, 1799 | 0 | 1 |
| Napoleonic Wars | ||||
| Battle of Trafalgar | Britain vs. France and Spain | October 2, 1805 | 3 | 27 |
| Battle of Cape Ortegal | Last Action of Trafalgar Campaign | November 4, 1805 | 0 | 4 |
| Battle of San Domingo | Britain vs. France | February 6, 1806 | 2 | 8 |
| Capture of Curacao | Britain vs. France | January 1, 1807 | 0 | 4 |
| Capture of Badere Zaffere | Britain vs. Turkey | July 5-6, 1808 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of Thétis | Britain vs. France | November 10, 1808 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of Furieuse | Britain vs. France | July 6, 1809 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of Banda Neira (Spice Is.) | Britain vs. Dutch | August 9, 1810 | 0 | 1 |
| Battle of Lissa | Britain vs. France | March 13, 1811 | 0 | 4 |
| Capture of Rivoli | Britain vs. France | February 22, 1812 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of Etolie | Britain vs. France | March 27, 1814 | 0 | 1 |
| War of 1812 | ||||
| Capture of USS Chesapeake | Britain vs. US | June 1, 1813 | 0 | 4 |
| Capture of USS President | Britain vs. US | January 15, 1815 | 0 | 1 |
A total of 22 Large and 117 small medals were awarded during the period of its existence. The large Gold Medals measured 51mm in diameter and the small Gold Medals, 33mm. Award of the large medals was reserved for Admirals, Commodores and Captains of the Fleet. Smaller medals were awarded to Captains of a ship. A separate medal was awarded for each action. Lord Nelson, for example, was awarded three large Gold Medals for the battles of St. Vincent, the Nile, Trafalgar (posthumously).
The obverse of the medal features Britannia, being crowned with a laurel wreath by the figure of Victory, while holding a spear and standing on the prow of ancient galley. To the left and behind the figure of Britannia, is a shield charged with the Union Flag. The reverse is engraved with the rank and name of the recipient and the event and date for which the medal was awarded. The large medal is bordered by a wreath of oak and laurel.
Award of the Naval Gold Medal was discontinued after 1815 when would-be recipients of the Naval Gold Medal became eligible for the expanded Order of the Bath.
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