Colonel John Campbell's sword to see $24,000 at Bonhams

A rare silver-gilt and enamel mounted small-sword that was presented to Colonel John Campbell by his men will sell at Bonhams' Antique Arms and Armour auction on November 27 in London.


Campbell's Fencibles served during the Irish revolution of 1798



Colonel John Campbell (1762-1834), 4th Earl of Breadalbane, was a Scottish soldier and landowner. The sword, a fine example made by John Prosser (appointed sword cutler to King George III), will sell with a £10,000-15,000 ($15,979-23,969) estimate.

Campbell succeeded to the earldom of Breadalbane and Holland, which was a Scottish peerage and did not grant him a seat in the House of Lords, in 1782. However, in 1784, he was elected as one of 16 Scottish Representative Peers in the House of Lords.

He is noted for raising a regiment of Fencibles, a temporary unit comprised mainly of private soldiers and volunteers, who served alongside him during the Irish rebellion of 1798.

The sword was presented as a tribute to the earl by his men, and is marked by an inscription that reads:

"1799 Presented by the Non Commissioned Officers & Private Soldiers of the 2d Batt 4th Fen.le Infy to their Col. the Earl of Breadal-bane As A Testimony of their Esteem for hs Person & Respect for his Noble liberal & Soldierlike conduct while serving with them in Ireland."

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