Thomas Mansel – Naval General Service Medal

I only have one photograph of Thomas Mansel but in it he wears a medal. He had a good naval career so I was interested in exploring what the medal was issued for.

I searched the Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 on Ancestry and discovered a record of him:

(ADM 171) Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840
First Lieutenants or Commanders promoted; other claims for the Algiers, Navarino and Acre clasps.

Copenhagen 1801
Name of claimant Thomas Mansel
Name of ship Elephant
Date ” ”
Result ” ”
Captain’s name Sir J.B. Thompson
Rating at time of action Midshipman

The Battle of Copenhagen was a naval battle in which a British fleet fought and defeated a smaller force of the Dano-Norwegian Navy anchored near Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801. The battle came about over British fears that the powerful Danish fleet would ally with France, and a breakdown in diplomatic communications on both sides.

HMS Elephant was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy.  In 1801 Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson chose Elephant as his flagship during the Battle of Copenhagen due to its suitability for the shallow waters there.

Thomas Mansel was on board the Elephant which was badly damaged in the battle and ran aground.