Admiral of the Fleet's baton presented to HRH William Henry, Duke of Clarence (1765-1837).

18 carat gold baton with the top terminal surmounted by a figure of St George and the dragon. A band of oak leaves and acorns decorates the top of the terminal, and round the centre of both top and bottom terminals are roses, thistles, and shamrock in two golds. Around the base of the lower terminal is a band of laurel leaves, and the base is inscribed: 'From his Majesty GEORGE IV King of the United Kingdom of GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND TO FIRST ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET, His Royal Highness WILLIAM HENRY, Duke of Clarence K.G. 1821'.

The body of the baton is covered with blue velvet, of which only the black backing has survived. Small gold lions are mounted on the velvet in four straight lines of four and five lions alternately (for the original red leather case, see PLT0025.1).

Admiral of the Fleet batons were the same in appearance as the red velvet-covered Field Marshal batons, in all but the colour. However, only four Admiral of the Fleet batons were ever made, and these were presented by the Sovereign on five special occasions as a personal honour, one being reissued. The first two were presented in 1821, this Duke of Clarence one, and another presented to Earl St Vincent, which is also in the NMM (PLT0174). Another went to James, Lord Gambier, in 1832, and in 1897 Queen Victoria presented a baton to her son Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.