Rare sword given to hero Battle of Trafalgar Navy captain who dismasted one French ship and rammed another before being gravely wounded in 1805 clash is expected to sell for up to £110,000
A rare sword presented to a naval captain for his heroics at the Battle of Trafalgar is being sold 219 years later and is expected to fetch up to £110,000.
The exquisite bronze gilt sword was one of 23 given to the British captains who helped defeat the combined French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in October 1805.
The 32in-long blades were known as 100 Guinea swords and each one was unique.
The one now for sale was awarded to Captain Robert Moorsom, who commanded the 74-gun ship HMS Revenge at Trafalgar.
A rare sword presented to a naval captain for his heroics at the Battle of Trafalgar is being sold 219 year later for £110,000
The exquisite bronze gilt sword was one of 23 given to the British captains who helped defeat the combined French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in October 1805
The 32in-long blades were known as 100 Guinea swords and each one was unique
Before the battle, Moorsom told his men that he would act as Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson had always done, by getting his ship alongside the largest enemy vessel and then leaving the rest to them.
This received three cheers from the crew, who 'fought like lions.'
Moorsom and his crew engaged several enemy ships.
They dismasted the Achille and rammed the Aigle - both French ships - before bringing the Revenge alongside the largest Spanish flagship, the 112-gun Principe de Asturias.
The exchange of fire saw Moorsom badly injured and 70 of his men either killed and wounded.
The bronze gilt sword, which has an ivory grip, is decorated with scrolling foliage and the figures of Victory and Britannia.
It has Moorsom's initials of RM and the presentation inscription reads: 'FROM THE PATRIOTIC FUND AT LLOYDS TO ROBERT MOORSOM ESQR. CAPTN OF HMS REVENGE FOR HIS MERITORIOUS SERVES IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIGNAL VICTORY OBTAINED OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE AND SPAIN OFF CAPE TRAFALGAR ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1805.'
The swords were created by Lloyd's Patriotic Fund, which was founded in 1803 to give grants to those wounded in service to the Crown and to the dependents of those killed in action.
The swords were created by Lloyd's Patriotic Fund, which was founded in 1803 to give grants to those wounded in service to the Crown and to the dependents of those killed in action. Above: The certificate in the sword's case
The one now for sale was awarded to Captain Robert Moorsom, who commanded the 74-gun ship HMS Revenge at Trafalgar
It is coming up for sale at Anthony Cribb Auctions of Newbury, Berkshire
The stunning decoration on the blade is seen close-up. The sword is expected to sell for £110,000
It has Moorsom's initials of RM and the presentation inscription reads: 'FROM THE PATRIOTIC FUND AT LLOYDS TO ROBERT MOORSOM ESQR. CAPTN OF HMS REVENGE FOR HIS MERITORIOUS SERVES IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIGNAL VICTORY OBTAINED OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE AND SPAIN OFF CAPE TRAFALGAR ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1805'
The exquisite item has belonged to a collector of Georgian-era swords for many years.
It is coming up for sale at Antony Cribb Auctions of Newbury, Berkshire.
Mr Cribb described it as the 'Holy Grail' of Georgian swords.
He said: 'This is one of the best examples of a Georgian sword to be found. It is like a work of art.
The British fleet defeated French and Spanish forces at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805
British forces were led by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was killed in the battle
'The Lloyds Patriotic Fund swords were awarded for lots of different naval engagements of that period, they were the naval version of the Victoria Cross.
'But to find one of the Trafalgar swords is incredibly rare and is like the Holy Grail of Georgian swords.'
Robert Moorsom was born in 1760 and joined the Navy as a Midshipman in 1774.
After recovering from his wounds at Trafalgar, Moorsom never returned to sea.
He was made a Knight Commander (KCB) in 1815, was Commander-in-Chief at Chatham from 1824 to 1827 and achieved the rank of Admiral in 1830. He died in 1835.
The sale takes place on November 26.
Battle of Trafalgar: Epic sea clash that laid foundations for Britain's global power - and claimed the life of Lord Admiral Nelson
Nelson's (above) triumph at Trafalgar gave Britain control of the seas and laid the foundation for Britain's global power for more than a century
Fought on October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of history's most epic sea clashes.
Not only did it see Britain eliminate the most serious threat to security in 200 years, but it also saw the death of British naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson.
This was not before his high-risk, but acutely brave strategy won arguably the most decisive victory in the Napoleonic wars. Nelson's triumph gave Britain control of the seas and laid the foundation for Britain's global power for more than a century.
Despite signing a peace treaty in 1803, the two nations were at war and fought each other in seas around the world.
After Spain allied with France in 1804, the newly-crowned French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had enough ships to challenge Britain.
In October 1805, French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve led a Combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships from the Spanish port of Cadiz to face Nelson and Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood.
Fought on October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of history's most epic sea clashes. Not only did it see Britain eliminate the most serious threat to security in 200 years, but it also saw the death of British naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson
Nelson, fresh from chasing Villeneuve in the Caribbean, led the 27-ship fleet charge in HMS Victory, while Vice Admiral Collingwood sailed in Royal Sovereign.
Battles at sea had until then been mainly inconclusive, as to fire upon the opposing ship, each vessel had to pull up along side one another (broadside) which often resulted in equal damage.
Nelson bucked this trend by attacking the Combined Fleet line head on - and sailed perpendicular towards the fleet, exposing the British to heavy fire.
He attacked in two columns to split the Combined Fleet's line to target the flagship of Admiral Villneuve.
11. 30am Lord Nelson famously declared that 'England expects that every man will do his duty', in reference to the command that the ships were instructed to think for themselves. The captains had been briefed on the battle plan three weeks before, and were trusted to bravely act on their own initiative and adapt to changing circumstances - unlike their opponents who stuck to their command.
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood led the first column and attacked the rear of the line, and broke through.
Nelson sailed directly for the head of the Combined Fleet to dissuade them from doubling back to defend the rear. But before he reached them, he changed course to attack the middle of the line - and Villeneuve's flagship.
Speeding toward the centre of the line, HMS Victory found no space to break through as Villeneuve's flagship was being tightly followed - forcing Nelson to ram through at close quarters.
In the heat of battle, and surrounded on three sides, Nelson was fatally shot in the chest by a well-drilled French musketeer.
The Combined Fleet's vanguard finally began to come to the aid of Admiral Villeneuve, but British ships launch a counter-attack.
Admiral Villeneuve struck his colours along with many other ships in the Combined Fleet and surrendered.
4.14pm HMS Victory Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy dropped below deck to congratulate Nelson on his victory.
4.30pm With the knowledge he has secured victory, but before the battle had officially concluded, Lord Nelson died.
5.30pm French ship Achille blew up signalling the end of the battle - in all 17 Combined Fleet ships surrendered.
... so did Nelson really say 'Kiss me, Hardy' with his dying words?
By RICHARD CREASY for the Daily Mail (in an article from 2007)
It was Britain's greatest naval victory and for more than 200 years historians have analysed every detail.
Now, amazingly, a new eye-witness account of the Battle of Trafalgar has emerged during a house clear-out.
It gives not only a first-hand view of proceedings from the lower decks but also a different interpretation of one of history's most enduring arguments - Admiral Lord Nelson's dying words.
Robert Hilton was a 21-year-old surgeon's mate on HMS Swiftsure, a 74-gun ship that played its part in the destruction of the French and Spanish fleets and of Napoleon's dream of invading England.
It was 13 days later, after Swiftsure had made it through gales to Gibraltar for repairs that Hilton took up his pen and wrote a nine-page letter home on November 3, 1805.
In it he says Nelson's last words, relayed to his ship's company from Nelson's flag captain, Captain Hardy, were: 'I have then lived long enough.'
Many people believe Nelson said: 'Kiss me Hardy.'
But historians rely on his surgeon's reports that he said: 'Thank God I have done my duty.'
