# Naval Gold Medal

The Naval Gold Medal was awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions.
Two different sizes were struck. 22 large medals were awarded to flag officers (admirals), commodores and captains of the fleet. 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains. As a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one.
Awards of the gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath on its enlargement to three classes.

## Appearance

* Size: The large medal has a diameter of 2 inches (51 mm), and the small medal 1.3 inches (33 mm). Medals were mounted in a gold frame, glazed on both sides.
* Obverse: Britannia holding a spear and standing on the prow of an ancient galley, being crowned with a laurel wreath by a figure of Victory. Behind is an oval shield charged with the Union Flag.
* Reverse: Engraved with the rank and name of the recipient, and the event and date for which the medal was awarded. The large medal has a surround of a wreath of oak and laurel.
* Ribbon: White with dark blue edges, 1.75 inches (44 mm) wide for the large medal and 1.5 inches (38 mm) for the small. In 1847, this ribbon was used for the Naval General Service Medal.
* Suspension: Large medals had a ring suspension for wear around the neck. Small medals were worn on the left chest by way of a straight bar suspender, normally from a buttonhole. Six of the large medals awarded for the Glorious First of June were presented suspended from a gold chain.

## Awards

Following the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794, the Naval Gold Medal was instituted to reward those admirals and captains who had been conspicuous for courage in that action, as well as those who might distinguish themselves on future occasions.
In spite of representations made by Lord Nelson, no medal was authorised for the Battle of Copenhagen, due to concerns that it may offend the Danes.
Recipients surviving until 1847 were entitled to apply for the Naval General Service Medal with the appropriate clasps.
Gold Medals were issued by the Admiralty for the following actions. Only selected captains received a medal for the Glorious First of June, otherwise all captains or acting captains were recipients.
| Action | Date | Large Medals | Small Medals |
| French Revolutionary Wars | 1793–1802 | – | – |
| Battle of the Glorious First of June | 1 June 1794 | 8 | 17 |
| Battle of Cape St Vincent | 14 February 1797 | 6 | 15 |
| Battle of Camperdown | 11 October 1797 | 2 | 15 |
| Battle of the Nile | 1 August 1798 | 1 | 14 |
| Recapture of HMS Hermione by HMS Surprise | 25 October 1799 | 0 | 1 |
| Napoleonic Wars | 1803–1815 | – | – |
| Battle of Trafalgar | 21 October 1805 | 3 | 27 |
| Battle of Cape Ortegal | 4 November 1805 | 0 | 4 |
| Battle of San Domingo | 6 February 1806 | 2 | 8 |
| Capture of the island of Curaçao by HMS Arethusa | 1 January 1807 | 0 | 4 |
| Capture of Turkish frigate Badere Zaffere by HMS Seahorse | 5-6 July 1808 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of French frigate Thétis by HMS Amethyst | 10 November 1808 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of French frigate Furieuse by HMS Bonne Citoyenne | 6 July 1809 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of Banda Neira | 9 August 1810 | 0 | 1 |
| Battle of Lissa | 13 March 1811 | 0 | 4 |
| Capture of the French ship of the line Rivoli by HMS Victorious | 22 February 1812 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of the French frigate Étoile by HMS Hebrus | 27 March 1814 | 0 | 1 |
| War of 1812 | 1812–1815 | – | – |
| Capture of USS Chesapeake by HMS Shannon | 1 June 1813 | 0 | 1 |
| Capture of USS President by HMS Endymion | 15 January 1815 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | | 22 | 117 |

## Some notable recipients

Only three Naval officers earned three gold medals:
* Sir Edward Berry. Received three small gold medals, for the battles of the Nile, Trafalgar and San Domingo.
* Lord Collingwood. Received small gold medals for the battles of the Glorious First of June and St Vincent, and a large gold medal for Trafalgar.
* Viscount Nelson. Awarded three large medals, for the battles of St. Vincent, the Nile and posthumously for Trafalgar.
Other selected awards are listed below:
Large Gold Medal
* Viscount Duncan. Commanded British fleet at Camperdown
* Alexander Hood. Vice Admiral at the Glorious First of June
* Earl Howe. Commanded British fleet at the Glorious First of June
* John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent. Commanded British fleet at St Vincent
Small Gold Medal
* William Bligh, As captain of HMS Director, during the Battle of Camperdown, he captured Vrijheid, commanded by Vice-Admiral Jan Willem de Winter
* Philip Broke. As captain of HMS Shannon, he captured USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812
* Sir James Gambier. Commanded HMS Defence on the Glorious First of June
* Sir Edward Hamilton. As captain of HMS Surprise, he recaptured HMS Hermione
* Sir Charles Knowles. Commanded HMS Goliath at St Vincent
* William Mounsey. As captain of HMS Bonne Citoyenne, he captured the French frigate Furieuse
* George Murray. Commanded HMS Colossus at St Vincent
* Thomas Pringle. Commanded HMS Royal George on the Glorious First of June
* Sir Michael Seymour. As captain of HMS Amethyst, he captured the French frigate Thétis
* Robert Stopford. Commanded HMS Spencer at San Domingo
* Charles Tyler. Commanded HMS Tonnant at Trafalgar