Captain Rotheram’s ‘Duck’s Foot’ pistol

52 Captain Rotheram’s seagoing ‘Duck’s Foot’ pistol

Length: 12 ½ in (32cm) Width: 6in (15cm)

This flintlock volley pistol of ‘Duck’s Foot’ type has four three-stage barrels numbered from ‘1’ to ‘4’, border engraved breech-block, action engraved with rococo ornament, walnut butt inlaid with silver-wire scrollwork and set with an oval escutcheon inscribed Capt Edw Rotherham.

English, circa 1800 Edward Rotheram (1753-1830) entered the Royal Navy in 1777 seeing action in the early years of his career at the battles of Martinique, St Kitts and Saintes during the American War. After further sporadic postings, lacklustre advancement and periods of unemployment, he benefited from the reluctant patronage of fellow Northumbrian Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood who made Rotheram his flag-captain in Dreadnought, 98 guns, then, just days before the Battle of Trafalgar, in Royal Sovereign, 100 guns. Royal Sovereign led the lee division at the action, opening the engagement and fighting gallantly, to the approval of Nelson watching from Victory. Rotheram’s personal, old-school bravery was much commented upon, especially as he chose to fight in dress uniform with gilt epaulettes and an oversized gold laced hat. ‘Let me alone’, he replied when urged to dress down, ‘I have always fought in a cocked hat and I always will’. Immediately following the battle Collingwood, now commander-in-chief following Nelson’s death, appointed Rotheram to Bellerophon, 74 guns, whose captain had been killed (see Pryce Cumby Silver page 57). He remained in the ship until 1808 when, having survived a court martial for unacceptable behaviour towards his fellow officers, he was retired ashore. Four-shot volley pistols, with their distinctive ‘Duck’s Foot’ shape, were popular among sea officers for close quarter boarding actions or quelling a mutinous crew.