Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Thomas Burr as a Clerk aboard the Spartan for the action of 3.5.1810, one of just 30 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll.
'The most notable Frigate action during the year 1810 was that fought by the 38-gun Frigate Spartan, Captain Jahleel Brenton. While off Naples she was attacked by a Squadron sent out of the port by King Joachim Murat, consisting of Ceres, 42 guns and 350 men; Fama, 28 guns and 200 men; the Brig Sparvière, eight guns and 98 men; the Cutter Achille, 10 guns and 80 men; and seven Gunboats, each carrying one long 18-pounder and about 40 men, making, with 400 Swiss troops placed on board, a total of 95 guns and about 1400 men, to oppose 46 guns and 258 men of the Spartan. Captain Brenton was not backward in accepting the challenge, and engaged them all in succession, until the breeze dying away, left the Spartan with her head exposed to the starboard broadside of the Ceres, with the Corvette and Brig on her starboard bow, and the Cutter and Gunboats sweeping up astern. With undaunted courage, Captain Brenton carried on the unequal conflict, until he received a most severe wound in the hip from a grape-shot. Fortunately, a breeze sprang up, and the Spartan was enabled to bring her broadside to bear on her opponents. At length the hostile Squadron made sail for Naples, and the British Frigate, closing with the Sparvière, compelled her to surrender. The Spartan lost 10 killed and 22 wounded, while the French acknowledged to having 30 killed and 90 wounded. The First Lieutenant, Willes, was promoted, and the extreme gallantry and skill of Captain, Officers and men received the warmest encomiums from the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Cotton, and the Admiralty' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
'The most notable Frigate action during the year 1810 was that fought by the 38-gun Frigate Spartan, Captain Jahleel Brenton. While off Naples she was attacked by a Squadron sent out of the port by King Joachim Murat, consisting of Ceres, 42 guns and 350 men; Fama, 28 guns and 200 men; the Brig Sparvière, eight guns and 98 men; the Cutter Achille, 10 guns and 80 men; and seven Gunboats, each carrying one long 18-pounder and about 40 men, making, with 400 Swiss troops placed on board, a total of 95 guns and about 1400 men, to oppose 46 guns and 258 men of the Spartan. Captain Brenton was not backward in accepting the challenge, and engaged them all in succession, until the breeze dying away, left the Spartan with her head exposed to the starboard broadside of the Ceres, with the Corvette and Brig on her starboard bow, and the Cutter and Gunboats sweeping up astern. With undaunted courage, Captain Brenton carried on the unequal conflict, until he received a most severe wound in the hip from a grape-shot. Fortunately, a breeze sprang up, and the Spartan was enabled to bring her broadside to bear on her opponents. At length the hostile Squadron made sail for Naples, and the British Frigate, closing with the Sparvière, compelled her to surrender. The Spartan lost 10 killed and 22 wounded, while the French acknowledged to having 30 killed and 90 wounded. The First Lieutenant, Willes, was promoted, and the extreme gallantry and skill of Captain, Officers and men received the warmest encomiums from the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Cotton, and the Admiralty' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).