Sabre and scabbard, presented to Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland

This gilt-mounted sabre and scabbard was presented to Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland in 1805 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.

Maitland was born in Fife and his house at Lindores in Fife was bought using prize money acquired during his successful naval career. His fame owed something to chance - when Napoleon Bonaparte chose to escape from France from the port of Rochefort after losing the Battle of Waterloo, Maitland's ship, HMS Bellerophon was guarding Rochefort. He took Napoleon on board and brought him to the south coast of England.

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