CAPTAIN CHARLES STEWART
(Capture of the Cyane and the Levant)

FURST, Moritz: USA, 1815, Bronze, 65 mm
Obv: Bust of Stewart    CARLOLUS STEWART NAVIS AMER. CONSTITUTION DUX. (Charles Stewart, Captain of the American Ship Constitution)
Rev: Naval battle between the Unites States frigate Constitution and the British ships Cyane and Levant. The Constitution, to windward, is opening with her port battery on the Levant; both British vessels are returning fire from their starboard batteries     UNA VICTORIAM ERIPUIT RATIBUS BINIS (He Snatched Victory from Two Vessels with One)
Exergue:  INTER CONSTITU. NAV. AMERI. ET LEVANT ET CYANE NAV. ANG. DIE XX. FEBR. MDCCCXV. (Between the American Warship Constitution and the British Warships Levant and Cyane, February 20, 1815)
Signed:  FURST. F.
Original Dies; Mintage=80
Ref: Julian 168/ NA-22; Loubat 245/47;  see Jaeger and Bowers 54/43;  Neuzil 37;  Weiss BW131

Charles Stewart (1778-1869) was born in Philadelphia. Early in his career he served in the West Indies and in the Tripolitan campaign. Through a series of promotions, in 1806 he attained the rank of captain. On February 20, 1815, while in command of the frigate Constitution he fought and captured two British ships-or-war, the frigate Cyane under Captain Gordon Falcon, and the sloop-of-war Levant, under Captain the Honorable George Douglas. For his brilliant action he was awarded a gold medal from Congress.

LINK to article: Medalic History of the War of 1812: Consequences to the American Indian Nations (by Benjamin Weiss)

LINK to Capture of the Cyane and Levant (from Naval Historical Center)

LINK to painting of Captain Charles Stuart by Thomas Sully (from National Gallery of Art)

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