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Commodore Thomas Truxtun Portrait Commemorative Porcelain/Brass Curtain Tieback

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
Commodore Thomas Truxtun Portrait Commemorative Porcelain/Brass Curtain Tieback
Misc. Decorative Arts
Commodore Thomas Truxtun Portrait Curtain Tieback the Commander USS Constellation & USS President Warships
c. 1800 Federal & Quasi-War with France Era, Commodore Thomas Truxtun Portrait, Commemorative Porcelain and Brass Curtain Tieback, Choice Extremely Fine.
In 1794 and the likely War with France looming, Thomas Truxtun (1755-1822) was one of the first six Captains appointed by President George Washington in the newly formed United States Navy. During the Quasi-War with France Truxtun commanded the warship USS Constellation. This rare, original and historically important Porcelain and Brass Curtain Tieback has a colorful central portrait image of American Naval Officer Thomas Truxtun. This outstanding piece of Political, Military and Historical decorative porcelain measures 1.5” in diameter and is held within its original 2” diameter brass Tieback. The brass back, shaft and hand-turned iron screw end are all original and fully intact. Minor hairlines. An impressive item for display. Last example we handled was EAHA Lot #287 in our August 26, 2016 auction where it brought $1,200.

The USS President was launched on April 10, 1800 at the time considered America's finest and fastest Warship. She was the last of the original six frigates launched. After the vessel was fitted out for sea duty, she set sail for Guadeloupe on 5th of August with Captain Truxtun in command, relieving Stephen Decatur. She conducted routine patrols during the latter part of the Quasi-War and recaptured several American merchant ships; however, her overall service in this period was uneventful. She returned to the United States in March after a peace treaty with France was ratified on 3 February 1801.

His victories, perhaps most notably that over L'Insurgente, made Truxtun a naval hero of the time. Consequently, when Truxtun arrived home he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal on 29 March 1800, becoming the eighth recipient of that body's "highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.” During this period, Truxtun took command of the USS President for a few months in 1800, then retired from the Navy and located first in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and later in Philadelphia. He was offered command during the First Barbary War in 1801 but refused, settling into retirement


Thomas Truxtun (or Truxton) (1755-1822). American Naval Officer after the Revolutionary War, when he served as a Privateer, who rose to the rank of Commodore in the late eighteenth century and later served in the Quasi War with France, and the First Barbary War in North Africa. He was one of the first six Commanders appointed to the new US Navy by President Washington. During his naval career he commanded a number of famous US naval ships including USS Constellation and USS President.