Abercromby in Egypt

302, Lot: 527. Estimate $150. Sold for $220. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

temp. HANOVER. Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby. 1734-1801. Æ Medal (41mm, 37.83 g, 12h). Mudie’s National Medals Series: The English Army in Egypt. By T. Webb. Dated 1801, but struck 1820. Uniformed bust facing slightly left / Horse right before the Great Pyramids. BHM 504; Eimer 929; Mudie 8. EF, dark brown surfaces.

The distinguished career of Abercromby reached its apogee in 1801, when the general was chosen to invade Egypt and drive out the French. Two weeks after a daring landing in Abukir in the face of French opposition, French forces attacked the British army outside Alexandria. While the number of British casualties was not particularly high, Abercromby was mortally wounded. He died shortly after on the flagship Foudroyant and was buried at Malta.