Naval Gold Medal

Naval Gold Medal
Obverse, with suspension of the small medal
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forCommand in battle
Presented byUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
EligibilityAdmirals and captains, Royal Navy
Campaign(s)French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1793–1814
Anglo-American War of 1812
ClaspsNone
Established1794
Total22 large and 117 small medals
Ribbon
Lord Nelson wearing large gold medals for St. Vincent and the Nile. With a later posthumous award for Trafalgar, he was the sole recipient of three large gold medals.
Admiral Sir Charles Knowles wearing a small gold medal for St. Vincent, where he commanded HMS Goliath.

The Naval Gold Medal was awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions.

Two different sizes were struck. 22 large medals were awarded to flag officers (admirals), commodores and captains of the fleet. 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains.[1] As a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one.[2]

Awards of the gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath on its enlargement to three classes.[3]

  1. ^ Ribbons and Medals, page 54
  2. ^ Medals Yearbook, page 122
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Observ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).