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Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)

Views of naval engagements and maps of battles

    ROBERT DODD (1748-1815)

    Île de Groix, 1808 (Île de Groix, Brittany, France) 47°38'12"N 03°27'40"W

    1809 or later

    Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 42.1 x 58.2 cm (image) | RCIN 735142

    A view of HMS Amethyst capturing the French frigate Thétis on 10 November 1808 off the Île de Groix. Napoleonic Wars (1803-15).

    Sir Michael Seymour (1768-1834) was created a baronet on 31 May 1809 and so this print, which refers to him as a baronet, must have been made after that date. Having been promoted to Captain on 11 August 1800, Seymour was appointed to the 36-gun frigate Amethyst, seen on the left in this view, in June 1806. This view shows the action in which the Amethyst captured the French frigate Thétis, which had only a few hours before sailed from L'Orient, bound for Martinique with a detachment of troops on board.

    • Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (publisher) [bottom right, below title:] London Published by R, Dodd 41 Charing Cross

      Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet (1768-1834) (dedicatee)

      Subject(s)

      Navy-France
      Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet (1768-1834)
      HMS Amethyst (frigate, launched 1799; wrecked 1811)
      Thetis (French ship)
      Royal Navy

    • Watermark: None visible

      Condition: no fold lines

    • 38.9 x 58.2 cm (neatline)

      42.1 x 58.2 cm (image)

      45.1 x 63.1 cm (platemark)

      47.8 x 65.9 cm (sheet)

    • Printed title:

      To Sir MICHAEL SEYMOUR Bar,t This View of his first Action when commanding his Majesty's Ship AMETHYST capturing the french Frigate THETIS / on the 10th Novb,r 1808 after a severe Contest of three hours, is most respectfully Inscribed By his Obedt Servant Rob.t DODD. [bottom, below view]

      Additional text:

      [bottom left, below title:] Amethyst 36 Guns Thetis 44 Guns.

      Annotations:

      (Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV.142. (Verso) [bottom centre, black pencil, in Evelyn Heaton-Smith's hand]: 194.b; [centre, black pencil:] 1808-19; [centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 1808-19.

      George III catalogue entry:

      Naval Engagement H.M. Ship Amethyst commanded by Sir M. Seymour Bar.t capturing the French Frigate Thetis on the 10.th of Nov.r 1808: by R. Dodd.

    • Subject(s)

      Île de Groix, Brittany, France (47°38'12"N 03°27'40"W)

    • Bibliographic reference(s)

      J.K. Laughton, 'Seymour, Sir Michael, first baronet (1768–1834)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.

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    • 3 November 2024

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