Presentation Sword

City of London presentation sword, which belonged to Admiral Sir John Duckworth (1748-1817). The hilt of the sword consists of a gold pommel made in the form of a bearded human head, complete with coronet, quillons, and fasces. The guard is made in the form of two blocks joined together by a chain and two ropes. There is a tablet in the centre of the guard, which is embossed on each side with a depiction of a sword and a torch. The grip is made of gilt and is embossed on each side with a coat of arms with supporters, between a crossed anchor, trident and caduceus. The arms on the obverse of the grip are that of Duckworth and the arms on the reverse are those of the City of London. The straight damascened steel blade has a broad groove running to the point and is now much rusted so that part of the inscription has been erased. The sword comes compete with a black fish-skin scabbard, which has three gold lockets and chape, with gilt edges, all richly ornamented with reliefs. There are rings in the form of dolphins on the top and middle lockets and an acorn on the end of the chape.

The obverse of the blade is inscribed with the words 'SHAW MAYOR. A COMMON COUNCIL HOLDEN IN THE CHAMBER OF THE GUILDHALL OF THE CITY OF LONDON, ON THURSDAY THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH 1806. RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THE THANKS OF THIS COURT BE GIVEN TO... SIR I.T. DUCKWORTH K. B. VICE ADML OF THE WHITE, FOR THE ZEAL & ALACRITY WITH WHICH HE PURSUED THE FRENCH FLEET TO THE WEST INDIES, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY FOR THE SKILFUL & GALLANT ATTACK MADE BY HIM ON THAT FLEET ON THE 6TH FEB...OFF ST. DOMINGO WITHIN LESS THAN AN HOUR ENDED IN THE CAPTURE & DESTRUCTION OF EVERY LINE OF BATTLE SHIP OF THE ENEMY, & ADDING ONE PROOF TO THE MANY ALREADY EXISTING...SUPERIORITY OF THE BRITISH NAVY', the blade is also decorate with the Royal arms which has decoration above.

On the reverse of the blade is the inscription 'RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THE FREEDOM OF THIS CITY BE PRESENTED TO VICE ADML SIR I.T. DUCKWORTH TOGETHER WITH A SWORD OF THE VALUE OF 200 GUINEAS AS A TESTIMONY OF THE HIGH SENSE THE CITY OF LONDON ENTERTAINS OF HIS GALLANT CONDUCT'. Engraved on the reverse of the top locket are the words 'R.Rutherdon, ALDGATE, LONDON' and embossed on both sides of the top locket is the word 'SUPERB'. Leslie Southwick (see Bibly) says this sword is made of gold not gilt following his examination of it in 1982 when he found that the sword was hallmarked.

Object Details

ID: WPN1121
Collection: Weapons
Type: Presentation Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: R. Rutherdon, R; Ritherdon, Robert
Places: City of London; British West Indies Santo Domingo
Events: Napoleonic Wars: Duckworth's action off San Domingo, 1806
Vessels: Superb 1798 (HMS)
Date made: 1806
People: City of London; Duckworth, John Thomas R. Rutherdon, R French Navy British Navy Southwick, Leslie
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 960 x 140 x 30 mm
Parts: Presentation Sword