Squadron off Nargue Island ‑ 23rd. July 1809.
In 1808, England and Sweden were two of the few European countries which had not been conquered by Napoleon. All trade with Britain was forbidden and, but for the alliance of Sweden, this blockade might well have forced England into submission. To maintain this important alliance, Vice Admiral Saumarez and his flagship Victory were sent to the Baltic to protect the Swedish dominions. Successfully blockading Copenhagen, he gained control of the Danish warships which led to Denmark declaring war on both Sweden and Britain and Russia declaring war on Sweden. He continued to defend Sweden and the British and Swedish Merchant ships which led to Russia, in 1810, compelling Sweden also to declare war on Britain. Saumarez refused to accept this and persisted, with courageous restraint, in undermining Napoleon's system. In 1811, although Britain was nominally still at war with both Sweden and Russia, his diplomatic skill was to manifest itself. Sweden had confiscated a quantity of British merchandise and ordered three blockships to defend the harbour but Saumarez refused to consider this an act of war and eventually, with a blend of firmness and diplomacy, managed to secure compensation. Russia then broke with Napoleon and Sweden was faced with the problem of seeking the protection of France or relying on England for independence. Trusting in the honour of the great British Seamen, Sweden did not hesitate in placing her confidence in Vice‑Admiral Saumarez.
In 1812, with the threat of an invasion of Sweden, Saumarez sailed for Gothenburg to prevent France occupying the Danish Islands for the purpose of such an attack and his mere presence there was enough to achieve this end. Russia and Sweden then became less hostile and a formal peace was signed at Orebro in Sweden between that country, England and Russia. This peace treaty was the real triumph of British naval policy in the Baltic from 1808 to 1813, for which much praise was due to Vice‑Admiral Saumarez. His friendship for Sweden resulted in their Charles XIII awarding him the Grand Cross of the Military Order for the Sword, which, was the equivalent of that of the Bath in England.
The painting shows Baron Platen in the 18 gun BrigSloop Rose arriving to confer the honour whilst the squadron was anchored off Nargue Island in the Baltic. Baron Platen is receiving a seven‑gun salute from HMS Victory.
In 1814 Saumarez was advanced to full Admiral, appointed Rear‑Admiral of Great Britain in 1819 and then, in 1821, to Vice‑Admiral of Great Britain. His last command in a long and distinguished career was that of Port Admiral at Plymouth from 1824 to 1827 and, in 1831, he received the highest and ultimate honour of being raised to the peerage. He took the title of 'Baron de Saumarez of Guernsey' and returning to his native Island was accorded a hero's welcome by the Island of Parliament and the population. Later, in 1834, he was honoured again by receiving the last mark of Royal favour from the Kind of Sweden, Charles XIV, on being sent a full‑length portrait of the King who was always grateful for the services which Lord de Saumarez had rendered to his adopted country'. Lord de Saumarez died on 9th October 1836, and was buried in his Guernsey Parish Church of Castel.
Philatelic News. Guernsey Post Office.
Guernsey SG360