15929636420001312637261000Standard Recordobject-141275170534538464417053296900001705345370929fitz-onlineadlib-object-141275https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/14127582e5c152-0842-369e-9df7-e87a7c4238057referenceterm-42993adlib-term-4299393884c6f-c60c-39f7-a75d-f84d65288fe0medalreferenceterm-122711adlib-term-1227111db96904-a474-3b61-a8e5-6c2d9dd557abLester Watson CollectionCoins and MedalsOne of then-General Napoleon Bonaparte's earlier plans against the British Empire during the French Revolutionary Wars was to threaten India by the capture of Egypt, and to attempt to open a canal between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. A French expedition arrived in the country in 1798, and British forces were sent in pursuit under Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson.
The fleets met in Aboukir Bay on the night of 1 August 1798, and Nelson was able to approach from windward so that French ships to the lee could not sail up to support their fellows. As a result Nelson was able to demolish the French line ship by ship, and the French fleet was almost entirely sunk or captured with only 218 casualties on the British side. The victory secured Nelson's reputation, but also led to Bonaparte's return to France to stage the coup that made him First Consul.
Nelson's victory was greatly celebrated in Britain, and although no official medal was issued for the action until 1849 (by which time very few potential claimants were still alive), Nelson's prize agent for the campaign, Alexander Davison, had this medal made in Birmingham at his own expense for distribution to the officers and men present at the battle.
Captains and above received gold, other officers silver, but this example in bronze would have been awarded to a rating. It remains unnamed as issued and so the recipient is unknown. Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.CM.1181-20091accession numberCM.1181-2009141275priref141275Watson Catalogue67orderingM-0064previous object numberLW.0064urihttps://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141275https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141275Pax with olive branch standing left on shoreline outcrop, with shield under left arm bearing bust of Nelson and legend: "EUROPE'S HOPE AND ENGLAND'S GLORY"obverseREAR ADMIRAL LORD NELSON OF THE NILEdesignFleet off shore with rising sun in background; exergue inscription reads: "Victory of the Nile / August 1, 1798"reversedesignreferenceagent-149638adlib-agent-1496387376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8The Fitzwilliam MuseumGiven by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009referenceagent-206432adlib-agent-206432e0b1da8e-f9e4-30be-9257-f82c89d45afbWatson, Lester200920092009givenon loan to the Fitzwilliam Museum 2005-20091798CE17981798mintreferenceagent-151458adlib-agent-151458eaf43d27-c4d5-3357-b79a-b169ccbb73ecBirminghamissuerreferenceagent-174957adlib-agent-174957e6af3073-f2a1-327a-883d-ced768a630a4Davison, Alexanderartistreferenceagent-174952adlib-agent-174952d9437671-6dd1-332a-81eb-531e73c57366Küchler, Conrad Heinrichunmountedreferenceterm-107687adlib-term-10768761b7b4a0-65d8-3856-9253-f53f17d65f43Soho mintBirminghamreferenceterm-40365adlib-term-40365d79c75c2-da7b-3187-918e-f7a374e04005bronzeDiametermm47.1Weightg39.86referencemedia-116101adlib-media-1161011977738c-98ae-31ee-a100-17f49fb3b15djpegcm/cm15/LW_0064_281_29.jpg1heightpixels365widthpixels35216162430782721imagejpegcm/cm15/LW_0064_281_29.jpg1heightpixels365widthpixels35216162430782721imagejpegcm/cm15/LW_0064_281_29.jpg1heightpixels365widthpixels35216162430782721imagejpegcm/cm15/preview_LW_0064_281_29.jpg1heightpixels259widthpixels25016162430782721image0media
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imagereferenceterm-122793adlib-term-122793359f40ab-416f-37d3-ada1-211493e20958Davison's Nile Medaldenominationreferenceterm-98222adlib-term-98222b5ccc43a-7491-344e-b6ca-5df39a11c50emedalsseriesreferenceterm-108659adlib-term-108659cc732dec-4543-389e-a737-cf22bb7d2ee2Militarysubseriesreferenceterm-107681adlib-term-107681e80da827-45c6-3b71-a3ef-28794a05e4a8Britainsubsubseriesreferenceterm-122712adlib-term-122712639b4532-b2cf-3f44-a24b-84974795c1a6Royal Navysubsubsubserieshistory noteGift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928referenceagent-149638adlib-agent-1496387376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8The Fitzwilliam Museum29referencepublication-5886adlib-publication-5886a6056c29-399c-38dd-9710-5b3f2d44b8a6British Battles and Medals 7th ednreferencepublication-5910adlib-publication-59100d1d8526-5493-32bd-93b4-acd4cdcec7f9British and other Campaign and Gallantry Medals From the Collection of Lester Watson (d. 1959)referenceterm-122793adlib-term-122793359f40ab-416f-37d3-ada1-211493e20958Davison's Nile MedalDavison's Nile Medalreferenceterm-119622adlib-term-119622dd6626e9-5822-307d-aa31-13c8813e7555struckobject
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