Rare Antiques from the Family Estate of Britain's Knight Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Hawkins Whitshed, RN, GCB, Offered by Joel Harry Jacobs Nautical Antiques

Joel Harry Jacobs Nautical Antiques announces the availability of two rare items from the family estate of Britain's Knight Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Hawkins Whitshed, RN, GCB, (1762-1849). The Knight Admiral is Britain's highest ranking naval officer.

Jupiter, FL (PRWEB) May 14, 2005 -- The first item is an extremely rare Joseph Lucas Tom Bowling Lamp Works black steel cabin lamp. The Lamp Works gave birth to the Lucas Electric empire, and these lamps were the first products. You rarely hear about them. However, a railroad lamp by the same maker sold on April 5, 2005 at a Bonham's Auction in the U.K. for 1380 GBP or approximately $2600.00.

The other item is a good sized, hand-lettered, painted wood sign, from the Portsmouth Dockyard, given to Sir James as a memento of his command tour there after the sign became obsolete when William IV became the reigning monarch.

Whitshed joined the Royal Navy at age 15 and had a long and distinguished career becoming a captain at age 20, and a rear admiral in 1799 at age 37, and raising to the rank of Knight Admiral of the Fleet, becoming Britain's highest ranking naval officer as Commander in Chief of the Fleet. Earlier, as Captain of Namur, with 90 guns, he took part in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (14 Feb 1797). He also commanded the warship HMS Ceres against the Colonial Navy during the U.S. Revolution.

Worth further mention, at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, as captain of HMS NAMUR, a ship of the line, he maneuvered and 'fought' his ship so as to prevent Commodore Nelson's flagship, HMS CAPTAIN, from being raked astern by the Spanish navio (battleship) while Nelson was busily engaged with two other Spanish navios. Whitshed was awarded a gold medal for his part in this historic battle during the war with France.

His service was under the reign of King George III, 1760-1820, George IV, 1820-30, and William IV, 1830-37.

These items are guaranteed authentic with known provenance and come from the heir to his estate. They are easily shippable. Pictures and prices are available on request. Other rare items with a British bent are available.

Please contact Joel Harry Jacobs Nautical Antiques at info@landandseacollection.com

Or Visit the Landandseacollection.com website.

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