Adam's Country House Collections 12th & 13th October 2020

176 Country House Collections CAPTAIN WILLIAM MCCLINTOCK-BUNBURY OF LISNAVAGH, CO. CARLOW 537 A 19TH CENTURY SILVER HOT WATER JUG, Dublin c.1852, maker’s mark of Robert Smith, entirely decorated with repoussé and chased flowering foliage, with hinged lid and applied thumbpiece, the baluster body decorated with birds to each side feeding on fruit, against an orange peel and scaly ground, the front with cartouche containing an armorial crest of Captain William McClintock Bunbury, R.N., engraved with the motto ‘VIS UNITA FORTIOR’ (United Strength is Stronger), with banded spout and s-scroll acanthus capped handle, raised on circular spreading foot (c.31 troy ozs). 22cm high € 2,000 - 4,000 William McClintock was an Irish Naval Commander and politician. Upon the death of his uncle Thomas Bunbury MP in 1847, he succeeded the Bunbury family estate in Lisnavagh, Co. Carlow. It was stipulated in his uncle’s will that in order to inherit the estate he had to legally combine his surname with the name of Bunbury. Along with the inheritance of this estate, also succeeded to his uncles seat in the British House of Commons and served as a member of parliament for County Carlow from 1846 - 1852 and again from 1853 - 1862. He joined the Navy in the summer of 1813, shortly after this 13th birthday, as a first class volunteer on HMS Ajax and continued his naval career as Midshipman on board the 40-gun frigate, HMS Severn. This vessel pursued the liberation of slaves and took part in the Bombardment of Algiers on August 27th 1816. It had become common practice for Algerians to enslave Europeans and expeditions like HMS Severn set out to put an end to this. In the 1820s and 30s he sailed the seas of the Southern Hemisphere as an officer and then Lieutenant on the HMS Samarang, under Captain Paget. Celebrated naturalist and biologist Charles Darwin recorded in his diary (1831-1836) during his travels aboard the Beagle, that the ship crossed paths with the Samarang; he goes on to describe meeting Captain Pag- et and the crew, so we can presume McClintock met Darwin himself. Also on board the Samarang was McClintock’s first cousin, future Admiral and noted artist, William Smyth and the future Arctic explorer (Sir Francis) Leopold McClintock. When the Samarang finally reached Portsmouth in 1835, the crew had been at sea for three years and seven months. Shortly after his return McClintock was promoted to the rank of Commander and appointed Commander of the Falcon. When McClintock settled back in Ireland, he did not waste much time be- fore he set out building a new house and farming complex on the estate with the help of American-born architect Daniel Robertson, thus play- ing an important role in the development of Lisnavagh while it was in his care. These buildings at Lisnavagh are enjoyed as a private country retreat and venue to this day. Day II LIVE AUCTION: Tuesday 13 th October 2020 starting at 11am