Georgian or Victorian Fob Seal Maritime BEAUFORT SOMERSET Family Crest Coat Arms Portcullis ANCHOR

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A superb bloodstone intaglio fob seal. It bears the crest badge and motto of the SOMERSET or BEAUFORT family. Duke's of Beaufort, Baron's Raglan and Duke's of SOMERSET.

Several family members were Naval men.
These include Rear Admiral Leveson Elliot Henry, born 1829 (Son of the 2nd son of the 6th Duke.

Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort 1774-1857 KCB,FRS,FRGS,FRAS,MRIA served in the Napoleonic wars, drew charts and took observations. He invited Charles Darwin on the second voyage of "The Beagle" and in later life associated with great minds including John Herschel, George Biddell Airy, and Charles Babbage. He invented the "Beaufort Scale" of wind force, still in use today.

The anchor on this fob is a rare form, perhaps a special commission and clearly indicates a seafarer.

Motto: 'mutare ve timere sperno' I spurn
to change or fear.

The portcullis badge was used by John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset and Somerset (c.1371-1410),bastard son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399). It was later used by his great-grandson, Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) whose mother was Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509). Henry VII (1485-1509) and Henry VIII (1509-1547), the first and second kings of the House of Tudor, used a portcullis as a badge and probably used it in the Palace, as well as buildings such as Kings College Cambridge. Under the Tudors the Palace of Westminster was replaced by a meeting place for parliament. A.W Pugin used the device extensively in his designs for the Houses of Parliament.

Measurements: face 20mm by 15mm, height 35mm.

Condition: Excellent. Old wear to suspension ring.

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• Georgian or Victorian Fob Seal Maritime BEAUFORT SOMERSET Family Crest Coat Arms Portcullis ANCHOR