The Champion of England, engraved by G. S. Shury, 1860 (colour litho)

The Sunderland sailor Jack Crawford (1775-1831) was the hero of the battle of Camperdown of October 11th, 1797. Crawford was serving on the flagship HMS Venerable during the battle between the English and Dutch fleets. Despite heavy gunfire, he climbed the mast to nail the Admiral's flag back into place after it had been shot away. The lowering of the flag (colours) was a signal of surrender. After more fighting, the British fleet eventually won. (The artist has mistakenly shown the Union Jack, not the Admiral's flag. It is also the Union flag design from after 1801, well after Jack's heroic achievement.) bottom left : inscription : printing : PAINTED BY T.H.MAGUIRE bottom right : inscription : printing : ENGRAVED BY G.S.SHURY bottom centre : inscription : printing : London; Published Feby. 1st. 1860; by E.Gambart and Co. 25, Berners Street, Oxford Street,_Nottingham, Shaw and [&] Sons bottom centre : inscription : printing : THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND. 'The Challenge_' 'THE FOE THOUGHT HE'D STRUCK_BUT HE SUNG OUT AVAST! AND THE COLOURS OF OLD ENGLAND HE NAIL'D TO THE MAST!' From the original Picture in the Collection of J.L.Thackeray, Esqre, The Park Nottingham, to whom this Engraving is respectfully dedicated by this obliged Servants. Shaw and [&] Sons