Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Alexander Davison’s Medal for The Nile 1798, bronze-gilt, neatly engraved in the reverse field (Jas. Early, Bellerophon) contained in a copper-gilt glazed case with loop for suspension, gilding a little worn on the high points but generally better than very fine £500-600

James Early was born at Christchurch circa 1777. He entered the Bellerophon as a volunteer from the Apollo, via the Cambridge, and was rated as an Ordinary Seaman. The musters for the Bellerophon covering the battle of the Nile have been withdrawn for conservation and are not currently available for inspection. However, James Early does appear in the musters for January 1797 to March 1798, and those for December 1798 to May 1799, so it is highly likely that he is included in those covering August 1798.