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Product Details
PREVIOUSLY THE PROPERTY OF LIEUTENANT (LATER ADMIRAL) SIR BARTHOLOMEW JAMES SULIVAN
AN EARLY PATTERN 1827 NAVAL SWORD,
who served under Captain Robert FitzRoy on the second voyage of HMS Beagle from 1831-36 with Charles Darwin, the sword with 28in. unsigned early-form pipe-backed quill-tipped blade (darkly stained), solid brass half-basket hilt with fold down inner guard and crowned anchor device, wire bound sharkskin hilt and brass back-strap with lions-head pommel, complete with its brass mounted leather scabbard with twin suspension rings
Provenance: Admiral Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, KCB, (18 November 1810 -1 January 1890) was born at Mylor, near Falmouth, Cornwall, the son of Rear Admiral Thomas Ball Sulivan. His early career when he was still a Lieutenant included service under Robert FitzRoy on the second Voyage of the Beagle, made famous by the presence of Charles Darwin. It was during this voyage that Darwin came to describe him as 'a real good rattling fellow. Sociable and loquacious, Sulivan established lifelong friendships amongst the crew, always knowing the latest news and gossip, and was one of the few people whose visits Darwin positively encouraged. Sulivan was the Nautical Surveyor and Hydrographer on the voyage and the Bartolome Island in the Galapagos Islands was named after him. From 1842-1845 he commanded HMS Philomel on the South American Station and surveyed the Falkland islands.
Later in 1845, he found himself commander of the combined Anglo French fleet at the Battle of de Obligado, which took place on November 20. During the Crimean War, he was sent by Sir Francis Beaufort, Hydrographer to the Navy, to the Baltic to assist the Fleet Commander Sir Charles Napier. Sulivan commanded the paddle steamer HMS Lightning, and made many valuable surveys and charts of the shallow waters in which the fleet had to operate. He successfully led the bombardment ships into position during the capture of Bomarsund in 1854.
From 1856-1865 he was the naval professional member of the Board of Trade and was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1870, then Admiral in 1877, having received a CB in 1855 and later a KCB in 1869 in the Birthday Honours List. His compassion truly showed when his friend Robert FitzRoy, from his days on the Beagle, killed himself, leaving his wife and daughter destitute. Sulivan convinced the British Government to give the family £3000, and Darwin himself donated a further £100 of his own money.
In 1985 the Falkland Islands issued a set of stamps featuring early cartographer's maps. The 54 pence stamp features the ship Philomel, together with a portrait of Admiral Sir B.J. Sulivan KCB.
The sword has kindly been consigned by his direct descendant, Major General Timothy Sulivan
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Estimate £300-500
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