Presentation sword, which belonged to Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth (1748-1817). The hilt of the sword consists of a gold lion's-head pommel and knuckle-bow guard made in the form of a serpent, with its head forming the quillon and its tail issuing from the lion's mouth. The gilt grip is embossed on each side with the arms of Jamaica with a foul anchor below and a naval crown encircled by laurel leaves above. The curved damascened steel blade has a broad shallow groove running to within 203mm of the point. The obverse of the blade is engraved with a depiction of a sea monster with a flag emblazoned with arms, with decoration above, including entwined dolphins and the crowned monogram 'GR'.

The obverse of the blade is also engraved with the words 'PRESENTED IN 1804 BY THE ASSEMBLY OF JAMAICA TO VICE ADML SIR I. T. DUCKWORTH K.B. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE EFFECTUAL PROTECTION AFFORDED TO THE COMMERCE, & COASTS, OF THE ISLAND BY HIS ABLE & DISINTERESTED DISTRIBUTION OF H.M. NAVAL FORCES UNDER HIS COMMAND, & AS A TESTIMONY OF THE HIGH SENSE ENTERTAINED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE EMINENT SERVICES HE HAS THEREBY RENDERED TO THAT COUNTRY'.

The reverse of the blade is engraved with a globe with flags and fasces, a female figure contained within an oval with a naval crown above, a phoenix and the monogram 'I.T.D.' contained within a circle which is surrounded by a five-pointed star, Royal arms, a naval trophy with a foul anchor on a shield, Britannia, a cherub holding a laurel wreath, and other decoration. The gold scabbard is heavily ornamented, with blue plush showing through two panels on each side. The scabbard has two rings consisting of rope strops around the necks of crocodiles.

Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth (1748-1817) was born on 28 February 1748 and entered the Royal Navy in May 1759 after early schooling at Eton. In 'Namur' he took part in the Battle of Quiberon Bay. After being confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant on 14 November 1771, Duckworth was court-martialled following an accident when a shot was carelessly left in a gun. He was acquitted on this charge.

After the outbreak of war with France in 1793, Duckworth commanded 'Orion' at the Battle of the Glorious First of June, receiving a gold medal for his part in this action. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 26 July 1779, to Captain on 16 June 1780 and to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the White on 14 February 1799. Following his promotion to Rear-Admiral of the White, Duckworth captured a very valuable Spanish convoy while blockading Cadiz and saw further service in the West Indies capturing Swedish and Danish islands and directing operations against General Rochambeau in San Domingo.

He was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Red on 1 January 1800 and was Commander-in-Chief of Jamaica, from 1803-05. He became Vice-Admiral of the Blue on 23 April 1804 and Vice-Admiral of the White on 9 November 1805. On his return to England, Duckworth faced a further court-martial on charges of using a frigate for private trading. A gold medal action under Duckworth's command saw the destruction of a French squadron off San Domingo on 6 February 1806. In 1807 Duckworth's squadron sailed through the Dardanelles in an ineffectual attempt to dictate conditions to the Ottoman Porte. He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Red on 28 April 1808 and after employment in the Channel in 1808-09 he was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief at Newfoundland. He was promoted to Admiral of the Blue on 31 July 1810, to Admiral of the White on 4 December 1813 and was made a KB on 6 June 1816. He returned to England and was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth in 1817, dying a few months later on 31 August 1817.