Original British Naval Brandy Keg- Broad Arrow Marked Dated 1795 Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. Recently purchased from a marine collection in the UK this is a charming small oval shaped wood brandy keg, or other strong drink, measuring 8 1/2″ x 6″ x 4″. Multiple copper hoops encircle the barrel.

One end of the wooden keg deeply marked 1795 with Broad Arrow, the other bears a copper medallion displaying a fouled anchor over:

Wm Fergusson, Surjeon

William Furgusson it appears was born in 1773 in Ayr Scotland and received medical training at Edinburgh University. In 1794 he became an assistant surgeon in the Army and was posted to Ghent, Holland. He was commissioned as Surgeon to the 90th Regiment of Foot. He evacuated the Continent the same year with his regiment returning to England via Bremen. His next posting was with the 67th Regiment in Santo Domingo in the Caribbean, which he joined in early 1796. Presumably this is where this Naval keg comes in as being his, as Ship’s Surgeon, on the lengthy Trans-Atlantic voyage.

In his later book, “Note and Recollections of a Professional Life” he states he was Surgeon to three different regiments, even saw service in the Navy where “I was fortunate to have sailed in every Ship of War, from the first-rate down to the smallest craft that carried a pennant.”

Fergusson rose to become the Inspector-General of Army Hospitals and retired in 1817. He was an intimate friend of the Royal Duke of Gloucester and moved to Windsor establishing a thriving Medical practice until his death in 1846.

Internet research on William Fergusson is included with purchase.

A really attractive original little British Naval Brandy Keg, named and dated 1795.