BRITISH ARMY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL & OIL PORTRAIT MAJOR GENERAL PETER BROWN

SOLD

Offered for sale is a 1793-1814 Military General Service Medal & oil painted portrait belonging to Major General Peter Brown, who served in the British Army for 54 years.

The M.G.S.M. retains the campaign bar ‘MARTINIQUE’ and is correctly named in impressed capitals to: PETER BROWN, CAPT, 23RD FOOT. The medal is confirmed 23rd RWF; MGS WO25/3998.

The oil painting is a very attractive piece, being painted in Canada about 1805 as a Captain. The painting is gilt wooden framed, with plaque to base and is ink written to reverse, with brief biography. The framed picture measures 35cm x 41cm x 4cm. It is a strung back piece, showing light crazing to surface, with no damage.

The medal and portrait relate to a very long career to Major General Peter Brown, who was commissioned as an Ensign in the 82nd Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wale’s Volunteers) on the 7th of December 1797, promoted Lieutenant 18th December 1802. Transferred to the 25th Regiment of Foot (The King’s Own Scottish Borderers) on promotion to Captain 21st March 1805, to Brevet major 21st June 1813, Lt. Colonel 18th June 1815, Major with the 23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers), transferred 14th Regiment of Foot (West Yorkshire Regiment) on half pay 25th July 1916, Colonel 10th January 1837 (unattached) and Major General 9th November 1846.

Major General brown served with the 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment on an expedition to the coast of France early in 1800 and subsequently to the Meditteranean. He also served at the siege and capture of Copenhagen in 1807 & in North America, specifically the Canadian Territories. He was present at the siege and capture of Martinique (in the Carribean) in 1809, to which he received his clasp to his M.G.S.M. He was the Commandant at Belem, serving also in the Netherlands as Commandant of Ghent. Whilst he was not involved in the Battle of Waterloo, he served in the Army of Occupation in France. He established a school on the model of the Royal Military Asylum – Chelsea, serving as Commandant of the Royal Military Asylum 15th December 1843, retiring as a Major General 1st April 1852. He died 3rd January 1853.

Not much more can be said concerning such a rare and unique pairing such as this. For those of you interested in Napoleonic and pre Imperial British colonial campaigning, this will of course tickle your collectors spirit.