A Very Fine and Historically Significant George III Period Silver Mounted Powder Horn For Priming Deck Cannon

This fine powder horn has silver mounts by the silversmiths Thomas Phipps and Edward Robinson, hallmarked for London, 1803. The charger on the horn has three adjustments and a side lever system and the wider end of the horn has a silver cap engraved with two crests, shields and family mottoes. The crests are for the Maitland and Dick families and represent the lineage of Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland. The Maitland line, represented by the lion crest and the motto Consilio et Animus represents the arms of the male line. Maitland’s father, also Frederick Lewis Maitland (1730-1786), had an interesting and successful naval career though was rather overshadowed by the later successes of his son. The martlet (small bird) crest and motto In Domino Confido is the female line, in this case Margaret Dick, daughter of Viscount  Frendraught. The Dick family was important in the clan hierarchy in Scotland, being the head of Clan Crichton and heir to Clan Makgill at this time.

Provenance

Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland KCB (1777-1839) and thence by descent

Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland KCB (1777-1839)

Born in Fife, Maitland was the father of a distinguished naval officer as discussed above. Mailtand joined the navy straight from school and, whilst serving on the frigate HMS Southampton under captain Robert Forbes, he was involved in his first major action when he was present at the Glorious 1^st of June in 1794. Maitland’s career advancement was swift and he earned a promotion to Lieutenant in April of 1795, serving on HMS Andromeda, and, soon afterwards, Venerable. Maitland then moved to the Mediterranean fleet in 1797 and, whilst serving on HMS Kingfisher he was awarded a £50 naval sword for his bravery, in part during the capture of a number of privateers.

Maitland became Flag Lieutenant to Lord St Vincent and was briefly captured during an attempted reconnaissance mission in Gibraltar in 1799. Having taken command of the vessel Penelope due to the sickness of the captain, he was thwarted by disobedience and bad conduct amongst the crew and the vessel was captured by the Spanish fleet. He was released due to his connection to Lord St Vincent and was promoted to Commander upon his return to active duty. He was mentioned in dispatches during the campaigns fought in 1801 and 1802.

During the Napoleonic wars, Maitland was particularly distinguished by his role in the Battle of Muros bay in 1805. His conduct on this occasion was enough to earn him the freedom of the city of Cork, thanks from the City of London and a Lloyds Patriotic Fund Sword. It is for his role as commander of HMS Bellerophon that Maitland is most remembered, however, as in 1815 he intercepted Napoleon whilst in charge of this historic vessel and the Emperor surrendered to him on the 15^th of July of that year and was taken on board the ship to England.