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Ref: 4801 |
Sir
Sidney Smith, President of the Reunion of the Knights of the White Slaves of
Africa 1816, bronze medal by Thomas Webb, scarce Obv:
bust of Smith right, WILLIAM SIDNEY SMITH around Rev:
PRESIDENT OF THE REUNION OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE WHITE SLAVES IN AFRICA within
oak wreath Condition:
Good very fine; Diameter: 54mm Reference:
BHM 920; E – Notes:
Admiral Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840) had a long and distinguished naval
career from 1777 to 1814. After Napoleon’s final defeat he moved to Paris for
the remainder of his life, where he took up the cause against the European
slave trade conducted by the Barbary pirates (an historical phenomenon
little-remembered today). His “Society of Knights” petitioned European
leaders at the Congress of Vienna and eventually action was taken when a
large naval force was sent under the command of Sir Edward Pellew (Lord
Exmouth) in 1816 which resulted in widescale destruction to Algiers, the
surrender of the Dey and the ending of Christian slavery. Price
£495 |
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