Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Sultan’s Medal for Egypt 1801, 2nd Class, gold, 48mm., lacking chain and hook suspension, contemporarily named around obverse cypher ‘Lieut. Col. James Stewart R.H. or 42nd Regt.’, good very fine and rare £3000-4000

James Stewart was born in 1758, younger son of Charles Stewart of Shambellie, co. Dumfries, and thus a descendant of one of the branches of the royal family of Scotland. He was appointed Lieutenant in the 42nd Regiment on 7 October 1777; Captain, 24 November 1790; Major, 21 October 1795; Lieutenant-Colonel, 14 December 1796; retired 19 September 1804. He saw some 30 years of active service in America, Holland, Spain, and Egypt, under Sir R. Abercrombie, Lord Moira and General Sir John Moore. He was present at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth, the capture of Philadelphia, the siege of Charlestown, storming of St Vincent, reduction of Menorca, the action at Aboukir, 8 March 1800, surrender of Cairo, and the siege of Alexandria. He was wounded during the landing at Aboukir Bay and commanded the 42nd at Alexandria. Colonel Stewart died in 1819.