The Naval General Service medal awarded to Captain Richard Beaumont, Royal Navy, for his...

The Naval General Service medal awarded to Captain Richard Beaumont, Royal Navy, for his services in the Endymion at the capture of the United States frigate President on 15 January 1815, the last action for which a Gold Medal was awarded Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Endymion Wh. President (Richd. Beaumont, Midshipman.) original ribbon, better than good very fine £10,000-£14,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Glendining’s, November 1927; Christie’s, March 1987. 58 clasps issued for Endymion Wh. President including 11 to officers. ‘The Endymion frigate - rated at 40 guns but carrying 48, Captain H. Hope, at the beginning of the year 1815 - formed part of a squadron which was watching the port of New York, where an American squadron was lying ready for sea. 
On 14 January, the American 50-gun frigate President, Commodore Decatur, taking advantage of a storm which blew the blockading ships off the coast, came out and set sail for the West Indies. The next morning she was observed by the British, who gave chase and the Endymion being the fastest sailing ship of the squadron, after a pursuit of 12 hours brought the President to action. 
An engagement lasting two and a half hours followed when the Endymion, much damaged in her sails and rigging, dropped astern to repair damages, and the American, with her hull pierced and shattered, continued her flight.
Just as the Endymion, who had bent new sails and repaired her rigging, had come up again, and was about to renew the action, the Pomona frigate, Captain Lumley, arrived within gunshot, and firing a broadside or two at the President she at once surrendered. Her masts and rigging were much injured, several of her guns disabled, and she had six feet of water in her hold when Captain Hope took possession of her. Nearly 100 of her crew were killed and wounded; the loss of the Endymion was 11 killed and 14 wounded. Richard Beaumont entered the Navy on 26 March 1811, as Third-class Volunteer on board the Venerable 74, Captain Sir Home Popham, with whom, after serving off Brest and on the north coast of Spain, he proceeded to the East Indies, as Midshipman, in 1813, of the Stirling Castle 74. He subsequently joined the Akbar 50, Captain Archibald Dickson, and Endymion 44, Captain Henry Hope, both on the Halifax station. In the latter vessel he took part in the memorable action fought on 15 January 1815, with the American frigate President, off Sandy Hook. He afterwards joined the Meander 38, Captains John Bastard and Arthur Fanshawe, at Sheerness, the Prince Regent yacht, commanded at Deptford by Captain Sir Edward Hamilton, and the Bellette 18, Captain George R. Pechell, engaged in protecting the revenue and fisheries on the coast of North America. He obtained a Lieutenancy, 13 October 1819, in the Mersey 26, Captain Edward Collier, on the Halifax station; was next appointed, 6 May 1824, to the Damond 46, Captain Lord Napier, employed on a particular service; and on 6 June 1825, was promoted to the command of the Weazle sloop, in the Mediterranean. He paid off the latter vessel in 1827. He was placed on the reserved list of Commanders in July 1851, and, on 1 April 1856, was advanced to his present rank of Captain. Captain Beaumont has received a medal for service performed in the Endymion. He was still alive in 1877.