A FINE CASED DOLLOND ACHROMATIC TELESCOPE, PRESENTED BY KING...

Estimate

£4,000 - £6,000

A FINE CASED DOLLOND ACHROMATIC TELESCOPE, PRESENTED BY KING GEORGE IV TO CMDR. SIR CHARLES PAGET WHEN HE ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE ROYAL YACHT ROYAL GEORGE, 1821

with 2in. objective lens, silver plated fittings and interchangeable draw tubes signed Dollond London, each further engraved Commodore the Honble. Sir Charles Paget K.C.H. from his esteemed & beloved Sovereign George 4th, On Board the Royal George Yacht, Cowes Roads, Augst. 4th, 1821, contained within fitted mahogany box of issue - 40¼in. (102cm.) diameter

Sir Charles Paget (1778-1839) entered the navy in 1790 under the patronage of Sir Andrew Snape Douglas. He enjoyed rapid promotion and on 30th March 1803 he commissioned the large frigate Endymion, and commanded her for the next two years, cruising in the channel, the Bay of Biscay, and on the coast of Spain or Portugal. In 1804 he captured four Spanish treasure ships from South America, gaining £26,000 prize money, much of which he spent on a country seat and a wife. Afterwards, he commanded various frigates or ships of the line in the channel, and from 1812 to 1814 the Superb (74 guns), in the Bay of Biscay and on the coast of North America. Between 1817 and 1819 he was in command of the Royal Yacht Royal George in attendance on the Prince Regent and was made a KCH on 19th October 1819. He continued his rise through the ranks until 10th January 1837 when he was made vice-admiral, and commanded on the North America and West Indies station until his death from yellow fever at St Thomas, Jamaica, on 27th January 1839.