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Lot Essay
Sold with a large quantity of related artefacts and documentation, including:
(i) Naval Officer's 1827 Pattern Sword, which is purported to be the one used by Queen Victoria to knight the recipient on the Quarter-Deck of H.M.Y. Alberta in August 1897.
(ii) Set of five Presentation Teaspoons, by Benzie, Cowes, silver, the handles in the form of turned ropes, contained in fitted case, one lacking.
(iii) Letter from the Queen's Secretary confirming the recipient's appointment to Sergeant at Arms (dated 24.8.1895), together with Warrant for the same post (dated 7.5.1910).
(iv) A leather bound volume containing a wide range of Official Certificates and Appointments granted the recipient in his long and illustrious career.
(v) A quantity of Royal Household Invitations, Menus and Programmes, including a silk-bound copy of the Marriage Ceremony for Her Royal Highness The Princess Beatrice to His Serene Highness The Prince Henry Maurice of Battenburg at Whippingham Church in July 1885.
(vi) A period photograph of the recipient in uniform and an earlier swivel-mounted gilt framed portrait.
Captain Sir William Burgess Goldsmith, Kt., was born in September 1837 and entered the Royal Navy in July 1852, quickly seeing active service in the Brig Philomel off the West Coast of Africa between 1853-56, in operations to suppress the slave trade. Removing to the Amethyst in the latter year, he was present at a number of actions in the Second China War, including the destruction of the Fatshan Flotilla of War Junks on 1.7.1857 and at the blockading of the Canton River and Macao Passage Reach, services that no doubt contributed to his advancement to Navigating Sub. Lieutenant in July 1858. Thus employed, he participated in the Amethyst's remarkable world voyage, returning home in 1860 and receiving further promotion to Navigating Lieutenant in October 1862 and to Staff Commander in July 1874.
Subsequently employed aboard the Seraphis during H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' visit to India between 1875-76, Goldsmith went on to enjoy many years in Royal Yachts, commencing with his appointment to the command of H.M.Y. Elfin in 1878, and ending with 14 years as Captain of H.M.Y. Alberta between 1883-97, in which latter year he was knighted on the Quarter-Deck by Queen Victoria. A Staff Captain since late 1888 and a Sergeant at Arms to the Queen since 1895, Goldsmith was now placed on the Retired List, but he remained active in the latter appointment until his death in December 1912, in addition to serving as Admiralty Commissioner on the Cowes Harbour Committee.
(i) Naval Officer's 1827 Pattern Sword, which is purported to be the one used by Queen Victoria to knight the recipient on the Quarter-Deck of H.M.Y. Alberta in August 1897.
(ii) Set of five Presentation Teaspoons, by Benzie, Cowes, silver, the handles in the form of turned ropes, contained in fitted case, one lacking.
(iii) Letter from the Queen's Secretary confirming the recipient's appointment to Sergeant at Arms (dated 24.8.1895), together with Warrant for the same post (dated 7.5.1910).
(iv) A leather bound volume containing a wide range of Official Certificates and Appointments granted the recipient in his long and illustrious career.
(v) A quantity of Royal Household Invitations, Menus and Programmes, including a silk-bound copy of the Marriage Ceremony for Her Royal Highness The Princess Beatrice to His Serene Highness The Prince Henry Maurice of Battenburg at Whippingham Church in July 1885.
(vi) A period photograph of the recipient in uniform and an earlier swivel-mounted gilt framed portrait.
Captain Sir William Burgess Goldsmith, Kt., was born in September 1837 and entered the Royal Navy in July 1852, quickly seeing active service in the Brig Philomel off the West Coast of Africa between 1853-56, in operations to suppress the slave trade. Removing to the Amethyst in the latter year, he was present at a number of actions in the Second China War, including the destruction of the Fatshan Flotilla of War Junks on 1.7.1857 and at the blockading of the Canton River and Macao Passage Reach, services that no doubt contributed to his advancement to Navigating Sub. Lieutenant in July 1858. Thus employed, he participated in the Amethyst's remarkable world voyage, returning home in 1860 and receiving further promotion to Navigating Lieutenant in October 1862 and to Staff Commander in July 1874.
Subsequently employed aboard the Seraphis during H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' visit to India between 1875-76, Goldsmith went on to enjoy many years in Royal Yachts, commencing with his appointment to the command of H.M.Y. Elfin in 1878, and ending with 14 years as Captain of H.M.Y. Alberta between 1883-97, in which latter year he was knighted on the Quarter-Deck by Queen Victoria. A Staff Captain since late 1888 and a Sergeant at Arms to the Queen since 1895, Goldsmith was now placed on the Retired List, but he remained active in the latter appointment until his death in December 1912, in addition to serving as Admiralty Commissioner on the Cowes Harbour Committee.