Orders, Decorations and Medals

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (Kilgour Davison, Actg. Lieut. R.N.) small edge bruise, otherwise good very fine £2500-3000

Kilgour Davison was born at Fraserburgh and educated at Aberdeen University. He entered the Navy on 15 April 1803, as a Schoolmaster on board the Ethalion 38, Captains Charles Stuart, Joseph Spear, William Charles Fahey, and Thomas John Cochrane, under which officers he successively served, latterly as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, until December 1808. He assisted during that period at the capture of the Danish West India islands of Saint Thomas and Santa Croix in December 1807, and, pending the last five months of his attachment to the Ethalion, was absent in a prize.

On next joining the Neptune 98, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Alexander Cochrane, he served at the taking, in February and April 1809, of the islands of Martinique and the Saintes, and of the French 74-gun ship D’Haupoult. Whilst in the Neptune he also aided in the cutting out of a schooner under a heavy fire from the batteries of St Eustatius. Being appointed, 29 June 1809, to an Acting Lieutenancy in the Vimiera brig, Captain Edward Scobell, he further contributed to the reduction of St Martin, St Eustatius and Suba, and in conjunction with the boats of the Surinam, cut out a French schooner from under the batteries of Saint Bartholomew. He removed on 5 July following to the Scorpion 18, Captains Hon. John Gore and Robert Giles, and, being confirmed Lieutenant in that vessel 17 July 1811, continued to serve in her on the Spanish Main and off the coast of Africa until March 1813. He subsequently held an appointment in the Coast Guard from 14 May 1831 until 1836, when he was placed on half-pay. He was placed on the retired list of Commanders on 1 July 1852, and died in 1863