An Extremely Rare 'Windsor Castle' Naval Reward Pair to Lieutenant G. B. Williams, Royal Navy

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An Extremely Rare 'Windsor Castle' Naval Reward Pair to Lieutenant G. B. Williams, Royal Navy

(a) Naval General Service, 1793-1840, one clasp, Navarino (Midshipman), contact marks, otherwise very fine

(b) PORTUGAL, Naval Reward, 1824, Fourth Class breast Badge with diamonds, 55 mm. including suspension bar x 30 mm., gold, obverse, central oval gold medallion with laureate and draped bust of King John VI right, encompassed by a band of 28 diamonds, flanked by two cabled crossed anchors and surmounted by the Royal Crown, with a horizontal laurel suspension bar above, reverse, the plain centre inscribed 'J. B. Williams 4', surrounded by 'Windsor Castle' embossed on a gold band (approximately 15 Naval Rewards of this type are recorded )

(c) Original hand written bestowal document for the Naval Reward translates: "His most faithful Majesty has been pleased to confer on all the officers of the squadron and midshipmen of the three Men of War, English and French that were lying in the Tagus on the 13th. May of the present year, medals with his bust encircled with diamonds and hanging from the ribbon of the colours of the Royal House. The same Lord has been pleased to confer on you one of the said medals of the 4th. Class and I am ordered to send you the one designed which I have the satisfaction of remitting you.

Palace of Benporta, 31st. July 1824
Marquis of Palmella
Minister of Foreign Affairs"
In its original named envelope de passage

(d) An interesting handwritten document in Tahitian, the translation in the same hand, overleaf:
"I have instituted an Order of Knighthood in my dominions similar to that which exists in many other nations, and which I have designated "The Royal Georgian Order of Polynesia" By virtue of my Sovereign Power I create you, my friend, George B. Williams, a companion of the distinguished Order. I do this as a token of my great satisfaction of your conduct in assisting me in supporting my right. My Secretary will forward you the emblems of this Order.
Pomare The Queen of Tahiti
Tahiti August 4 1843
The above is a correct translation G. Pritchard'.


Lot Essay

INDENTQueen Pomare put herself under the protection of France, September, 1843. She retracted and Tahiti and the neighbouring islands were taken by the French in November. Mr Pritchard, the English consul was imprisoned, March 1844, a move which was censured in France.

Lieutenant George Bell Williams, entered the Royal Navy as a Volunteer in H.M.S. Windsor Castle, 1821 and was present during the attempted insurrection in Portugal, 1824

The Lisbon Incident

During the disturbances in Lisbon, an attempt was made on the night of the 29th. April 1824, by supporters of the Infante Dom Miguel to dethrone his father, King John VI and to establish the Queen as Regent. On the 3rd. May, assurances were given through diplomatic channels that H.M. Ships Windsor Castle and Lively then at anchor in the River Tugus, off Lisbon would, should the need arise, give asylum to the Portuguese Monarch.

Continuing disorder and the methodical confinement of many subjects loyal to John, obliged the King to seek the protection of the British naval presence. At mid-day on the 9th. May, the officers and men of Windsor Castle and Lively engaged themselves in a dangerous tactical deception which was successfully and uneventfully concluded when the Sovereign and his two daughters were received into Windsor Castle from the Royal Barge. Four days later, Dom Miguel, exiled from Portugal, sailed from Lisbon in the French corvette Zebre escorted by H.M.S. Lively and the Portuguese Frigate Pearl (Consult 'Naval Medals 1793-1856' - Captain Douglas-Morris, for a learned and more comprehensive account of the incident together with the compiler's observations relating to the award)

Mr Williams joined H.M.S. Glasgow, February 1826 and fought in her at the battle of Navarino, 20th. October 1827 and assisted in the boats in cutting out a number of piratical vessels off the Island of Hydra; passed his examination and was employed as Mate from May, 1829; during the insurrection in Jamaica, 1831-32, Mr Williams, detached from H.M.S. Blanche, was employed for some weeks on shore with some seamen and marines, co-operating with the local militia and the military in protecting the town of Montego Bay; promoted Lieutenant, 1840; was employed with the Coastguard from February, 1848

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