Nelson & His World

Sorry if my memory is failing me here, but I am just wondering if anything has been written about the Naval Knights of Malta - particularly with regard to officers who were at the Battle of the Nile.

My understanding is that an earlier order (don't know the precise name) had been "expelled and suppressed" by Napoleon in 1797.

But then in 1798 the King of Naples was instrumental in awarding the honour to various officers who were at the Battle of the Nile. Amongst them may have been a John Woolward (relation of Lady Nelson) who was only a midshipman at the time.

Is there any connection with the award that Emma is wearing in the Schmidt portrait?

Grateful if anyone can throw any general or detailed light on this topic.

Thanks

MB

The knights expelled from Malta by Napoleon belonged to the Order of St John. The greatest number of dispersed knights found shelter in St Petersburg and so began their connection with Russia. A quote from wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller


The knights were dispersed, though the order continued to exist in a diminished form and negotiated with European governments for a return to power. The Russian Emperor, Paul I, gave the largest number of knights shelter in St. Petersburg, an action which gave rise to the Russian tradition of the Knights Hospitaller and the Order's recognition among the Russian Imperial Orders.[26] The refugee knights in St Petersburg proceeded to elect Tsar Paul as their Grand Master – a rival to Grand Master von Hompesch until the latter's abdication left Paul as the sole Grand Master. As Grand Master Paul I created, in addition to the Roman Catholic Grand Priory, a "Russian Grand Priory" of no less than 118 Commanderies, dwarfing the rest of the Order and open to all Christians. Paul's election as Grand Master was, however, never ratified under Roman Catholic canon law, and he was the de facto rather than de jure Grand Master of the Order.


It was the Order of Malta that the Tsar bestowed on Lady Hamilton, and that she is wearing in the famous Schmidt portrait. How strange that I never wondered before how he acquired the right to do so! Now I know! This was, apparently, Nelson's favourite portrait of Emma, not least, perhaps, because she is wearing the order. He was always eager for her services to be officially recognised.

http://tinyurl.com/5u64de8

According to wiki, the order was restored as a military (not naval) order in 1834.

Good Morning Both,

There are a number of books available on the Orders Navy and here is a local source to have a look at http://www.bdlbooks.com

There were two hundred Knight of the Order in Malta at the time of the French invasion, in June 1798, including the Orders Treasurer Fra Bosredon de Ransijat who had Republican sympathies and Thirty four French Knights and Seventeen officials sailed with Napoleon to Egypt.
Mark, You may want to contact the Order of St John in London who have a wealth of archives their address is:

The Museum of The Order of St John,
St John's Gate,
St John's Lane,
London, EC1 4DA.

Tel 020-7324-4005
http://www.culture24.org.uk/se000049

I remember the Curator was a Mrs/Miss Julia Findlater

Hope that may help.

Stephen

A quick Google brings up this query from John Woolward's grandson (the Rev S Woolward mentioned in the other thread) in 'Notes and Queries', Dec 1930:
But perhaps this is what prompted your query in the first place, Mark.

Tony

Yes, the same letter was published in the Times and that was the one that I came across.

He sent a further letter a couple of months later which read as follows:



I am becoming less certain that there was a separate Order named the "Naval Knights" but maybe there were naval officers who received awards as Military Knights.

If anyone finds any more evidence please let us know.

Stephen,

I might try a letter to the Order of St John. As you say you never know what information they might have. When I was a St John Ambulance Brigade cadet (Yes, many years ago!) we had an exam on the history of the Order of St John and if you passed you got a badge for your shirt sleeve. Regrettably it was on a rather more superficial level than my question here - or so I recall!!

MB

This may be of interest relating to the Msida Bastion Cemetery Book, Edited by James Cannon

George Wickens Willes death Aged 67 Date of Death 26.10.1847 Captain of HMS Vanguard (See Order of St John N/88 for inscription) Distinguished career in Napoleonic Wars. Joined Navy aged 11 (1794)

Remember posting this on the 1805 Club Forum.

Mark

The book you want is Roddy Cavaliero's "The Last of the Crusaders: the Knights of Malta in the 18th Century", first published by Jonathan Cape in 1960 and reprinted by the Fundazzioni Patrimonju Malti (no expense spared) in 2001.

Brian