A Napoleonic Military Officers Tea Chest Belong to Col Crokat C1800

A Box belonging to General Crokat during The Napoleonic Wars he was born 1789-1879. His main claim being he was on duty when Napoleon died, and the last survivor to see Napoleon on his deathbed and he saw him immediatly after his death and present at post mortem and he marshalled the people who filed past the dead Emperor May 7th. He also sailed in the 'Heron' to dispatch the news of his death arriving England July 4th. He was the first to relay the news and he was made Major and £500 alot of money in those days.Bearing his name plate when he was Colonel and also you can see where his former name plates at former ranks were from the nail markings to top of box. The Box is c1800, was for English officers for there Tea Service, Linen and Cultery you can see where a tray once laid inside, you can also see where Florentine paper marbled paper interior was. It also bears the makers name which is in keeping with these dates. A rare piece due to Crokat being the one with Napoleon on his deathbed and first to relay the news.You can see where his different name plates from when Lower ranked on top of box.

William Crokat (1789-1879), Orderly Officer at Longwood from April 15th to May 7th, 1821. He was bom near Edinburgh and, in his eighteenth year, he joined as Ensign, the 20th Foot, in Sicily, in 1807. He became a Lieutenant in 1808 and served in the Peninsular War, being severely wounded at Roncesvalles. In 1809, he took part in the Walcheren Expedition, when he was invaded. In 1814, he was gazetted Captain, and in 1819 he went with his regiment to St. Helena. On April 15th, 1821, Crokat was appointed Orderly Officer at Longwood, in succession to Lutyens. He was on duty when Napoleon died, and he saw him immediately after his death. He was present at the post-mortem examination, and he marshalled the people who filed past the dead Emperor on May 7th. That evening, Crokat sailed in the " Heron " with Lowe's dispatches announcing the death, and arrived in England on July 4th. For this service, he was given his Majority, and £500.

Crokat was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1837, Colonel in 1851, Major-General in 1855, Lieutenant-General in 1861, and General in 1871. He served for some years in India, and retired on half-pay in 1826. He hved at 52, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, where he died, aged ninety, on November 6th, 1879, the last survivor of those who had seen Napoleon on his death-bed. Crokat was six feet two inches in height, of commanding presence, and handsome, if one may judge from his portrait. The reproduction of this portrait, a miniature, is by the kind permission of his niece, the late Miss Julia Crokat, who died in her 89th year, on November 4th, 1914, and of its present owner Blosse McNeel Caird, Esquire.

On April 26th Lutyens was relieved of his duties at Longwood and returned to the 20th Regiment. He was replaced as orderly officer by Captain William Crokat. Crokat was thus on duty when Napoleon died on May 5th, and therefore had the privilege of sailing to England on May 7th bearing Lowe’s dispatches announcing the death of Napoleon. For this service he was promoted to the rank of Major and given £500, honours that would otherwise have gone to Lutyens.Crokat was the last survivor of those who saw Napoleon on his deathbed. He died in Edinburgh at the age of 90 in November 1879. Among the many relics of Napoleon in his possession was the wooden spatula used by Napoleon to clean his spade when gardening.

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