Small-sword which belonged to Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn (1772-1853). The hilt of the small-sword consists of a silver-gilt knuckle bow, which is ornamented with eighteen facetted beads. The grip and the oval pommel are richly chased. Each side of the pommel is decorated with a design consisting of a crossed sword and a trumpet. The small-sword has a rudimentary pas d'ane ring. The underside of the shell has a laced border and is decorated with an embossed naval trophy consisting of an anchor, a gun, a quadrant, oak leaves and acorns, and a broad pendant bearing the words 'Commodore Nelson'. The upper side of the shell bears the words 'Presented by Commodore Nelson to Captn George Cockburn of His Majesty's Ship La Minerve in commemoration of two gallant Actions fought on the 19 & 20 Dec. 1796'.

In December 1796, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) was sent in 'La Minerve' with the then Captain George Cockburn, to evacuate the garrison of Elba. On the way to Gibraltar 'La Minerve' fell in with and captured the Spanish Frigate, 'Santa Sabina', and took her after a hard fought action. Next morning however the arrival of two Spanish battleships and a frigate forced them to abandon their prize. In the following year Nelson gave Cockburn this small-sword to commemorate this action. Sir William Beechey (1753-1839) painted Cockburn in 1820 wearing this small-sword. The hilt of the small-sword bears the hallmark for the year 1797-1798.

The triangular blade has been damascened in blue and gold and is decorated with a foliage pattern and figures of Britannia and Fame to within 50mm of the shell and the point. The white shark-skin scabbard has two silver-gilt lockets with rings attached, and a chape with an acorn end. The scabbard has been broken at some time about 150 mms from the end and has been skilfully repaired by the fitting of an additional locket 30 mms long. The top locket is ornamented with looped lines and two rosettes of facetted beads.

Cockburn entered the Royal Navy on 12 March 1781 aged nine as a Captain's Servant in the frigate 'Resource'. He also served in the yacht ‘William and Mary’. He entered into full sea service in 1786 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in January 1793. He became a Commander on 11 October 1793, a Captain on 20 February 1794 and in 1809 he married his cousin, Mary Cockburn, by whom he had a daughter.

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue on 12 August 1812 and commanded on the American Coast between 1813-14. He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the White on 4 December 1813 and to Rear-Admiral of the Red on 4 June 1814. He conveyed Napoleon to St. Helena in 1815, was nominated K.C.B. on 2 January 1815 and G.C.B. on 20 February 1818. He became Vice-Admiral of the Blue on 12 August 1819 and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1820.

He was M.P. for Portsmouth in 1820 and became Vice-Admiral of the White on 27 May 1825. He was M.P. for Plymouth in 1826, was made a Privy Councillor in April 1827 and was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the Red on 22 July 1830 and to Admiral of the White on 10 January 1837. He was M.P. for Ripon in 1841 and was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Red on 23 November 1841. He became First Naval Lord between 1841-46 and was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 1 July 1851. He succeeded to the Baronetcy on 26 February 1852 and died in 1853.

At his death, Cockburn left the small-sword in trust to his widow and afterwards to their daughter Augusta Harriot Mary, wife of Commander J.C. Hoseason. At Augusta’s death the small-sword was to go to the holder of the baronetcy in perpetuity. The baronetcy came to an end with the death of Sir George's nephew, Sir Alexander James E. Cockburn on 28 November 1880. The small-sword then passed into the possession of the Yorke Family, a branch of which was descended from Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn's sister, through her daughter Anna Augusta Hawkins who married James Charles Yorke. It finally came to Lieutenant George Cockburn Yorke who was born on 24 December 1921 and who accidentally drowned on 1 May 1948. It was by his wish that the small-sword was donated to the National Maritime Museum.