Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Samuel Eborall as a Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Spartan for the action of 3.5.1810, one of just 30 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll.
Lieutenant Samuel Eborall entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Inspector in September 1805 and served briefly in the North Sea before removing to the Pylades and thence to the Spartan, in which latter ship he 'actively served' in the Mediterranean until August 1810:
'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 Sparviere, 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 contest, 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 Sparviere, 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).
O'Byrne states that Eborall appears to have missed out on Spartan's celebrated action of 3.5.1810, 'in consequence of his being invested, after the reduction of the Ionian Islands, with the temporary command of the Zantios', an Armed Brigantine. Since Eborall was a successful claimant for the above described Medal after the publication of O'Byrne's statement in his Naval Biographical Dictionary, it is clear that he was able to substantiate his presence in that action at a later date and, moreover, to the satisfaction of the appropriate authorities.
Between late 1810 and 1815 Eborall was employed as a Master's Mate, and Acting Lieutenant, in various vessels on the Home, West India and Newfoundland Stations. Confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant in February 1815, he was afterwards placed on Half-Pay and found employment as a Captain of assorted Merchantmen operating out of Liverpool between 1817 and 1829. Latterly a Railway Manager, he died in Handsworth, Staffordshire in November 1853.
Lieutenant Samuel Eborall entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Inspector in September 1805 and served briefly in the North Sea before removing to the Pylades and thence to the Spartan, in which latter ship he 'actively served' in the Mediterranean until August 1810:
'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 Sparviere, 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 contest, 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 Sparviere, 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).
O'Byrne states that Eborall appears to have missed out on Spartan's celebrated action of 3.5.1810, 'in consequence of his being invested, after the reduction of the Ionian Islands, with the temporary command of the Zantios', an Armed Brigantine. Since Eborall was a successful claimant for the above described Medal after the publication of O'Byrne's statement in his Naval Biographical Dictionary, it is clear that he was able to substantiate his presence in that action at a later date and, moreover, to the satisfaction of the appropriate authorities.
Between late 1810 and 1815 Eborall was employed as a Master's Mate, and Acting Lieutenant, in various vessels on the Home, West India and Newfoundland Stations. Confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant in February 1815, he was afterwards placed on Half-Pay and found employment as a Captain of assorted Merchantmen operating out of Liverpool between 1817 and 1829. Latterly a Railway Manager, he died in Handsworth, Staffordshire in November 1853.