Details

LOT 0433

Royal Navy Officer’s Sword for Battle of Trafalgar Midshipman (Later Commander) James Eaton

1827 PATTERN

37 3/8 in. (1.31 kg, 95 cm).

A solid half-basket-hilt with folding guard, engraved 'J.S. Eaton, R.N.' in copperplate; lion-head pommel with knuckle-bow entering through the lion's mouth, 'ray-skin' grip and retaining wires; sword-knot tied through slot in the knuckle-bow (now in protective velvet pouch); pipe-backed single-edged blade with etched crown-and-anchor design to one face and heraldic helm to the other, ricasso with reserved six-pointed star and inset gold disc with blackletter 'D'; black leather scabbard with three brass fittings (locket, middle and chape) and two suspension rings; suspension cord with decorative braided banded keepers.

Provenance

Believed to have been owned by James Eaton, famed for serving at the battle of Trafalgar, and in later life, Commander.
Ex Newbury antique emporium.
Property of a Berkshire, UK, gentleman collector.

Accompanied by copies of various online biographical research information.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13157-246979.

Footnotes

The sword is believed to have belonged to Eaton in later life, when he had been promoted to the rank of Commander. The Trafalgar Roll (p.53) and other sources record his career in some detail.

James Eaton was born in London in 1783 and entered service in the Royal Navy in 1799, aged 16, aboard the Quebec stationed in the West Indies, and in 1800 he was appointed Midshipman to the vessel La Prompte.

He was in the mizentop of the Hannibal in the action off Algeciras, Spain, in 1801 when she was obliged to surrender, having sustained losses of 81 men killed and 62 wounded; he was then in an exchange of prisoners and returned to Britain aboard the San Antonio which had been captured from the Spanish in battle at Cadiz. As a midshipman in 1803, he served on the Atalante intercepting enemy smuggling and supply vessels near St. Gildas in the bay of Quiberon, Brittany.

Eaton was the Signal Midshipman of the Téméraire at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and was the first signal officer to repeat Nelson's famous message 'England expects that every man will do his duty' to the rest of the fleet, an illustrious and important achievement: J.M.W. Turner created a magnificent painting of the Téméraire which is now featured on United Kingdom £20 notes. This ship took part in the thick of the action at Trafalgar - she came alongside and was lashed to the French ships Fougeux and Redoutable, the crew of which was about to board Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory until a broadside was delivered which caused a huge loss of life and saved Nelson's vessel from the hands of the French. He was promoted to lieutenant the following year and appointed to the Lion where he served for six years. He sustained wounds in an action aboard the Lion while escorting a convoy to China and took part in 1811 in the invasion of Java mounted against the Dutch East India Company.

In 1813, he was aboard the Beaver when she rescued the crew of a Swedish merchant vessel and received a distinction for his part in the action. He retired in 1842 with the rank of Commander with the Naval General Service Medal and two clasps in recognition of his distinguished career. He finally settled in West Bromwich; he died fifteen years later.

Less glorious, perhaps, is his nickname 'Snotty' Eaton - the normal term in those days used to describe any midshipman. The vendor has been told by Will Heppa, curator at the Royal Navy Museum, that there appears to be only one 'J Eaton' in the records of the appropriate period; there is thus every reason to accept that the sword did belong to the Eaton of Trafalgar fame.