Historic compass, Battle of Trafalgar. Military/naval intere...

Hammer

£2,000

Historic compass, Battle of Trafalgar. Military/naval interest - an early 19th Century white metal cased 16 point compass with white enamel dial by Rubergall, London inscribed to the back 'Capt P.C.Durham RN HMS Defiance Trafalgar 21st October 1805'. Sir Philip Charles Calderwood Henderson Durham (1763-1845) had a long and most distinguished naval career. He took command of HMS Defiance in 1803 and the Defiance saw hot action at Trafalgar capturing the Spanish San Juan Nepomuceno and the French Aigle. A favourite of King George III, Durham was one of the foremost seamen of his day, finishing his naval career as Admiral, and afterwards serving briefly as the MP for Devizes (1834-36) before taking up the post of commander-in-chief at Portsmouth. The Defiance suffered extensive damage during the battle of Trafalgar (21st October) and Durham personally received wounds to his leg and side. After the battle Durham received a visit from Hardy who told him that one of the last things Nelson said before going into battle was "Hardy tell your friend Durham he was the most sensible man of the party to stick to his ship."  Thomas Rubergall was a prominent scientific instrument retailer in London from 1802 to 1854. He was an optician to George III, and a mathematical instrument maker and optician to the Duke of Clarence and Queen Victoria. The book 'Trafalgar Captain, Durham of the Defiance' by Hilary Rubinstein included with this lot. Also included is an original copy of The Times, Thursday Nov 7th 1805 which discusses the Battle of Trafalgar at length. (3)

Provenance: This item has been passed through the Elphinstone Fleeming-Cunningham Graham family. Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming (1774-1840) was a contemporary Naval Officer of Durham and succeeded him as Commander in Chief of Portsmouth in 1839. As Durham left no direct heirs it is presumed this compass was given to Charles Fleeming by Durham during his lifetime.

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