Sabre and scabbard

This gilt-mounted sabre and scabbard was presented to Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland in 1805. It was given to him by the Patriotic Fund at Lloyds for his attack on a fort and capture of ships in the Bay of Muros on the north-west coast of Spain.

The sword is of a standard design for those presented by the patriotic Fund, and was valued at £100. Two other designs of sword, valued at £50 and £30, were for award to less senior officers.

Rear Admiral Maitland's fame owed something to chance. When Napoleon Bonaparte chose to escape from France by the port of Rochefort following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Maitland's ship, HMS Bellerophon was guarding Rochefort. He took Napoleon on board and brought him to England. Although Napoleon complained of the treatment he had received while under British protection he told Maitland 'I feel your conduct to me throughout has been that of a gentleman and a man of honour'.

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