Medal commemorating Captain Thomas Macdonough (1783-1825) and the Battle of Lake Champlain, 1814. Obverse: Bust of the captain in uniform (right). Legend: 'THO. MACDONOUGH. STAGNO CHAMPLAIN CLAS. REG. BRIT.' Below: 'SUPERAVIT.' (Thomas Macdonough: He defeated the Royal British fleet on Lake Champlain.) Reverse: General view of the action. Legend: 'UNO LATERE PERCUSSO ALTERUM.' Below: 'IMPAVIDE VERTIT.' (Hard hit on one side, undaunted he turns the other.) Exergue: 'INTER CLASS. AMERI. ET BRIT. DIE XI SEPT. MDCCCXIIII.' (Between the American and British fleets, 11 September 1814.) Signed 'FURST. F. below truncation of bust and on the exergual line to the right.
One of a series of 27 medals commemorating American successes during the War of 1812, struck by special resolution of Congress. They were awarded to naval commanders in gold and to their officers in silver. The bronze examples are restrikes.