Naval Gold Medal



The Naval Gold Medal was awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions.

Two different sizes were struck. 22 large medals were awarded to flag officers (admirals), commodores and captains of the fleet. 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains. As a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one.

Awards of the gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath on its enlargement to three classes.

Appearance

 * Size: The large medal has a diameter of 2 in, and the small medal 1.3 in. Medals were mounted in a gold frame, glazed on both sides.
 * Obverse: Britannia holding a spear and standing on the prow of an ancient galley, being crowned with a laurel wreath by a figure of Victory. Behind is an oval shield charged with the Union Flag.
 * Reverse: Engraved with the rank and name of the recipient, and the event and date for which the medal was awarded. The large medal has a surround of a wreath of oak and laurel.
 * Ribbon: White with dark blue edges, 1.75 in wide for the large medal and 1.5 in for the small. In 1847, this ribbon was used for the Naval General Service Medal.
 * Suspension: Large medals had a ring suspension for wear around the neck. Small medals were worn on the left chest by way of a straight bar suspender, normally from a buttonhole. Six of the large medals awarded for the Glorious First of June were presented suspended from a gold chain.

Awards
Following the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794, the Naval Gold Medal was instituted to reward those admirals and captains who had been conspicuous for courage in that action, as well as those who might distinguish themselves on future occasions.

In spite of representations made by Lord Nelson, no medal was authorised for the Battle of Copenhagen, due to concerns that it may offend the Danes.

Recipients surviving until 1847 were entitled to apply for the Naval General Service Medal with the appropriate clasps.

Gold Medals were issued by the Admiralty for the following actions. Only selected captains received a medal for the Glorious First of June, otherwise all captains or acting captains were recipients.

Some notable recipients
Only three Naval officers earned three gold medals: Other selected awards are listed below:
 * Sir Edward Berry. Received three small gold medals, for the battles of the Nile, Trafalgar and San Domingo.
 * Lord Collingwood. Received small gold medals for the battles of the Glorious First of June and St Vincent, and a large gold medal for Trafalgar.
 * Viscount Nelson. Awarded three large medals, for the battles of St. Vincent, the Nile and posthumously for Trafalgar.

Large Gold Medal Small Gold Medal
 * Viscount Duncan. Commanded British fleet at Camperdown
 * Alexander Hood. Vice Admiral at the Glorious First of June
 * Earl Howe. Commanded British fleet at the Glorious First of June
 * John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent. Commanded British fleet at St Vincent
 * William Bligh, As captain of HMS Director (1784), during the Battle of Camperdown, he captured Vrijheid, commanded by Vice-Admiral Jan Willem de Winter
 * Philip Broke. As captain of HMS Shannon (1806), he captured USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812
 * Sir James Gambier. Commanded HMS Defence (1763) on the Glorious First of June
 * Sir Edward Hamilton. As captain of HMS Surprise (1796), he recaptured HMS Hermione (1782)
 * Sir Charles Knowles. Commanded HMS Goliath (1781) at St Vincent
 * William Mounsey. As captain of HMS Bonne Citoyenne, he captured the French frigate Furieuse
 * George Murray. Commanded HMS Colossus (1787) at St Vincent
 * Thomas Pringle. Commanded HMS Royal George (1788) on the Glorious First of June
 * Sir Michael Seymour. As captain of HMS Amethyst (1799), he captured the French frigate Thétis
 * Robert Stopford. Commanded HMS Spencer (1800) at San Domingo
 * Charles Tyler. Commanded HMS Tonnant (1798) at Trafalgar