A George III silver epergne / centrepiece: Naval and American Revolutionary War Interest

John Wakelin & William Taylor, London 1780

Footnotes

The full inscription reads:

'To Sir Richd Pearson Knt who on the 23rd Sept 1779 in his Majesty's Ship Serapis protected a numerous and valuable Fleet, on their voyage from the Baltic from the Attacks of a superior Force. The Russian Company present this Epergne as a testimony of their sense of his Bravery & Conduct on that occasion'

Captain Sir Richard Pearson (1731 - 1806)

Captain Sir Richard Pearson was born in 1731 at Langton Hall, Appleby in Westmorland.
He entered the Royal Navy in 1745 and is best remembered for his confrontation with the American Continental Navy captain John Paul Jones, during the American Revolutionary War in the naval battle off Flamborough Head.

On 23rd September 1779, Pearson, when in command of the frigate Serapis was escorting a valuable convoy of trade ships from the Baltic when he was encountered by Jones in the Bonhomme Richard and a small accompanying American rebel squadron, which was engaged in raiding English trade ships along the Channel. In this famous close battle both sides suffered heavy losses, resulting in Pearson surrendering the Serapis to Jones but not before his spirited defence had covered the escape of the valuable convoy. The Bonhomme Richard, fatally damaged, ended up sinking and so forcing Jones to return to port in Pearson's captured vessel Serapis.
Pearson was widely recognised for his gallantry on release from captivity in France. On his return to England he was knighted by King George III. On hearing of the honour conferred on his adversary, John Paul Jones remarked 'Should I have the good fortune to fall in with him again, I'll make a lord of him'. Pearson further received the freedoms of several towns and by the Russia Company and the Royal Exchange Assurance Company presented with handsome pieces of plate. It is also recorded he was also presented with three coconut cups mounted in silver by Wakelin and Taylor.
He retired from service in 1790 and in 1800 became Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital where he died in 1806.
He married Margaret Harrison (1743–1816) of Appleby and had four sons and two daughters.
Pearson was portrayed by Peter Cushing in the film John Paul Jones (1959).

Rear Admiral John Paul Jones (1747–1792) was the United States' first well-known naval commander who is sometimes referred to as the 'Father of the American Navy'.