American War of Independence (1775-83)
George III’s maps and views showing the development of the war at home and abroad, from North America to India
Naval engagement at Flamborough Head, 1779
The memorable Engagement of Capt.n Pearson of the SERAPIS, / with Paul Jones of the Bon Homme Richard & his Squadron, Sep. 23. 1779. // Combat mémorable donné le 22. 7bre. 1779, entre le Capitaine...
published 1780Engraving and etching; laid down on paper; the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 48.0 x 57.7 cm (image) | RCIN 734049
A naval engagement off the coast of Yorkshire between an American Continental Navy squadron using borrowed French vessels under the command of John Paul Jones, and two British escort vessels guarding a Baltic merchant convoy fleet. The result was an American/French tactical victory; overall, it was a strategic draw.
Dedication: [bottom centre, below title:] To Sir Richard Pearson Kn.t whose Bravery & Conduct saved the Baltic Fleet, under his Convoy tho' obliged to / submit to a much superior force, This representation of that Action, Is with great Respect Inscribed, by his most obedient Servant, / Richard Paton.
Additional text: [bottom, left of title and dedication, a list of the numbers of guns, men, killed and wounded on the Serapis, and the Bon Homme Richard, and of the enemy's forces; bottom, right of the titles and dedication, similar information in French.]
Condition: one fold line.
John Boydell (1720-1804) (publisher) [bottom centre, below text:] Published Dec.r 12.th 1780, by John Boydell, Engraver in Cheapside, London.
Richard Paton (1717-91) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Rich.d Paton Pinxit.
Daniel Lerpiniere (1745-85) (engraver)
James Fittler (1758-1835) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Lerpiniere & Fittler Sculp,,nt
Sir Richard Pearson, Captain R.N. (1731-1806) (dedicatee)
Watermark: None visible
Condition: one fold line
44.5 x 57.7 cm (neatline)
48.0 x 57.7 cm (image)
49.5 x 60.2 cm (platemark)
49.4 x 60.7 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
The memorable Engagement of Capt.n Pearson of the SERAPIS, / with Paul Jones of the Bon Homme Richard & his Squadron, Sep. 23. 1779. // Combat mémorable donné le 22. 7bre. 1779, entre le Capitaine Pearson commandant / Le SERAPIS, et Paul Jones commandant Le Bon-Homme-Richard, & Son Escadre. [bottom centre, below view, in English and French, the titles separated by vertical bar]
Dedication:
[bottom centre, below title:] To Sir Richard Pearson Kn.t whose Bravery & Conduct saved the Baltic Fleet, under his Convoy tho' obliged to / submit to a much superior force, This representation of that Action, Is with great Respect Inscribed, by his most obedient Servant, / Richard Paton.
Additional text:
[bottom, left of title and dedication, a list of the numbers of guns, men, killed and wounded on the Serapis, and the Bon Homme Richard, and of the enemy's forces; bottom, right of the titles and dedication, similar information in French.]
Annotations:
George III heading: [black pencil:] Military Naval Engagement 23 Sep 1779 Port folio No 5 -5.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, obscured by paper backing: the old heading, and:] XIV/49; [top left, black pencil:] 37; [bottom left, black pencil:] 78a; [left of centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 37; [top right, black pencil, a letter?].
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
Title [ink:] Representation of the Engagement of Capt.n Pearson of the Serapis, with Paul Jones of the / Bon Homme Richard and his Squadron, 23.d of Sep.tr 1779: - by R. Paton, engraved by / Lerpiniere and Fittler, published by Boydell 1780 / Port-folio N.o [black pencil:] 5 - 2 Table / [in a modern hand, crossed out in black pencil:] UL Naval / [George III heading, red ink:] Naval Engagement 23 Sep. 1779; [black pencil, erased, partly legible:] oversize [?] XIV.
Watermark: JWHATMAN 1811.
Size: 48.3 x 33.4 cm (sheet).George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement Representation of the Engagement of Captain Pearson of the Serapis with Paul Jones of the Bon Homme Richard, and his Squadron, 23.d of Sept.r 1779: by R. Paton, engraved by Lerpiniere and Fittler: published by Boydell, 1780.
Subject(s)
Flamborough Head, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK (54°06'59"N 00°04'38"W)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H. Parker, Naval battles from the collection of prints formed and owned by Commander Sir Charles Leopold Cust. With an introduction by C.N. Robinson, 2 vols., London 1911, no.78
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
