Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain James P. McEuen, Superintendent of Police, Shanghai, late Master R.N.

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed; Shanghai Jubilee Medal 1893, silver, edge engraved ‘Presented by the Shanghai Municipality’, reverse engraved ‘J. P. McEuen, R.N.’, the first with refixed suspension, heavily polished, therefore fine, the second very fine (2) £600-£800

James Painter McEuen was born in Stepney, London, on 3 March 1840, an illegitimate child born to Margaret McEuen. He was educated at Greenwich Hospital School and entered the Royal Navy on 12 April 1855, aged 15, as a Master’s Assistant, a rank given to navigation officers of the period. His first ship was H.M.S. Hastings, in which he served during the Baltic war and duly received the medal. His career as a navigating officer was largely undertaken off the coast of West Africa, engaged on anti-slavery patrols and survey expeditions. He was aboard H.M.S. Brisk when she captured the Emanuella (formerly Sunny South) with 800 slaves on board as cargo. In 1864, he was recommended by Lieutenant Knowles (later Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, Bt.) for his services aboard H.M.S. Investigator, whilst on an expedition up the River Niger, and is possibly depicted in the painting by T. V. Robins of Knowles and party in talks with a local chief at Bida. McEuen was promoted to Master in Her Majesty’s Fleet on 5 February 1865, and retired from the Royal Navy on 1 September 1871. He was afterwards appointed Harbour Master at Hong Kong and, on 6 March 1884, Captain Superintendent of Police at Shanghai, a position he held until 25 July 1896. He died at Yokahama, Japan, on 29 August 1896, whilst en route to England, in ill-health. There is a memorial to Captain McEuen at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Shanghai. Sold with comprehensive research.