The Death of Major Pierson, And the Defeat of the French Troops in the Market Place of Saint Helier in the Island of Jersey, Jany. 6th 1781.

London, c. 1785

Copper engraving

Trimmed within platemark & publication line, misc. repairs affecting engraved surface, slight surface abrasion in margins and title area.

470x610mm

£280

The Death of Major Pierson, And the Defeat of the French Troops in the Market Place of Saint Helier in the Island of Jersey, Jany. 6th 1781.

A large, rare, dramatic engraving showing the heroic death at the moment of victory of Major Francis Pierson (1757-81). Pierson is shown in the centre of the design, falling back into the arms of his soldiers, beneath the British Standard, while on the right women and children flee the fighting in terror. Pierson entered the army at an early age, rising to the rank of major in April 1780, when he was appointed to the 95th regiment, which was shortly afterwards stationed in Jersey. At this period the Channel Islands were subjected to the constant danger of attacks from the French, who made several futile attempts to gain possession. By far the most important of these raids was that of 6th Jan. 1781, known as the ‘Battle of Jersey,’ when the French, under the Baron de Rullecour, a desperate adventurer, landed under cover of night and took possession of the town of St. Helier, making the lieutenant-governor, Major Moses Corbet, a prisoner in his bed. Under these circumstances the command of the troops devolved upon the youthful Peirson. Rullecour succeeded in inducing Corbet to sign a capitulation, and Elizabeth Castle was summoned to surrender, but the officer in command boldly refused to obey the order. Meanwhile the regular troops and the island militia, under the command of Major Pierson, advanced in two divisions towards the Royal Square, then the market-place, where a vigorous engagement took place, resulting in great loss to the French, who, though fighting with great obstinacy, became disordered and were compelled to retire. The victory was complete, but had been gained at the heavy price of the life of a promising young officer, for in the very moment of victory the gallant Pierson was shot through the heart, and fell dead in the arms of his grenadiers. Rullecour himself was mortally wounded, and most of the French soldiers were taken prisoners. Pierson, was interred in the parish church of St. Helier with all the honours of war, and in the presence of the States of the island, who caused a magnificent monument to be erected to his memory. Copley’s famous painting is now in the National Gallery.

**Rowlandson

An Officer Saluting

Published at Ackermann’s Gallery, July 10^th 1798.

Mixed method engraving with hand colouring.

Plate: 250 x 198 mm

Very slight spotting. Good Impression.

Price: £ 360 for 6

**Rowlandson

Present Arms

Published at Ackermann’s, February 16^th 1799

Mixed method engraving, coloured by hand.

Plate: 245 x 197 mm

In Good condition.

Prince: £360 for 6

**Rowlandson

Club Arms (1^st Motion)

Published at Ackermann’s Gallery, December 20^th 1798

Mixed method engraving hand coloured.

Plate: 249 x 200 mm

In Good condition.

Price: £360 for 6

**Rowlandson

Mourn Arms (1^st Motion)

Published at Ackermann’s Gallery, January 1^st 1799

Mixed method engraving, hand coloured.

Plate: 248 x 199 mm

In good condition.

Price: £360 for 6

**Rowlandson

Ground Arms (2^nd Motion)

Published at Ackermann’s Gallery, July 18^th 1798

Mixed method engraving, hand coloured.

Plate: 250 x 200 mm

Small Stain (top right-hand corner). Otherwise in good condition.

Price: £360 for 6

Rowlandson

Charge Bayonet (2^nd Motion)

Published at Ackermann’s Gallery, June 1^st 1798

Mixed method engraving, hand coloured.

Plate: 250 x 200 mm

In good condition.

Price: £360 for 6

R.S Siebenmann

Napoleon at St Helène

19^t C   Lithograph

Sheet: 470 x 588 mm

Several repaired marginal tears. Restored area in the trees on the right-hand side. Slight spotting over image.

Price: £120

A depiction of Napoleon’s exile to St Helène, after his defeat at Waterloo at the hands of the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (18^th June, 1815). St Helène was an island in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 2000km from any major landmass and therefore was an ideal place for Napoleon’s imprisonment and exile.

Lieut. General the Honourable Henry Edward Fox, Lieut. Governor of Gibraltar &c. &c. &c.

London, Colnaghi August 17th 1805

Mezzotint

350x250mm

£85

Lieut. General the Honourable Henry Edward Fox, Lieut. Governor of Gibraltar &c. &c. &c.

A rare and interesting portrait of Henry Edward Fox (1755-1811), son of Henry Fox 1st Lord Holland and his wife Lady Caroline Lennox, and the youngest brother of the statesman Charles James Fox, whom he greatly resembles. After Westminster School he entered the army, serving throughout the American War of Independence, and it is curious to notice that while Charles James Fox was inveighing against the war with the Americans, his brother Henry was constantly employed in it. On his return to England he was received, perhaps for this reason, with the greatest favour by the king, who made him one of his aides-de-camp with the rank of colonel on 12 March 1783. An able soldier, who had distinguished himself in the war in Flanders, in 1804 Fox was appointed lieutenant-governor of Gibraltar, which, as the titular governor, the Duke of Kent, did not reside there, practically meant governor of that important fortress. From this office he was removed, after his brother's accession to office in 1806, to the command of the army in Sicily, and he was also appointed ambassador to the court of Naples, then residing at Palermo. Sir John Moore was his second in command, and as Fox was in very bad health, Moore really undertook the entire management of both military and diplomatic matters. Soon after his return to England Fox was promoted general on 25 July 1808, and made governor of Portsmouth, where he died on 18 July 1811. He left one son, Henry Stephen Fox, diplomatist, and two daughters, the elder married to General Sir Henry Bunbury, bart., and the younger to General Sir William Napier, K.C.B.