Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Trafalgar, Basque Roads 1809 (David Sharp.) small edge bruise and minor marks, otherwise good very fine £6000-8000

David Sharp is confirmed as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.S. Revenge at Trafalgar, and in the same ship as an Able Seaman at Basque Roads. David Sharp is a unique name on all published rolls.

Whilst the Britannia, built in 1762, is believed to have been the oldest ship engaged at Trafalgar on either side, so the Revenge was probably the newest, having been built at Chatham Dockyard earlier in 1805. In the battle she played a distinguished part, was herself severely damaged, and had twenty-eight killed and fifty-one wounded, including her captain, Robert Moorsom. In Lord Gambier’s action at Basque Roads in 1809 her losses amounted to eighteen killed or wounded, more than any other ship present.

David Sharp was born in 1782, being christened on 28 April of that year at Bervie, Kincardine, Scotland, and lived at Gourden, Aberdeenshire. In 1805, at the age of 23, he was taken by a press gang from the Elizabeth tender and transferred to H.M.S. Ceres, before being put aboard H.M.S. Revenge on 9 May 1805, when he was entered on her books as a ‘prest’ man and rated as an Ordinary Seaman. He served aboard Revenge for some 9 years, being advanced to Quarter-master’s Mate in July 1810, and to Captain of the Main Top in June 1812. He joined H.M.S. Glasgow in the same rate in September 1814, was reduced to Able Seaman shortly afterwards before being made Quarter-Gunner in January 1815. He finally left the ship and the Navy on 28 August 1815. Sold with comprehensive research including copied muster lists and a fine modern print of the Revenge in full sail.