06 May 2016
Under the hull of Cutty Sark is the Long John Silver Collection of Merchant Navy figureheads. These figureheads are from many different ships, many sailing at the same time as Cutty Sark. Within the collection are a number of significant military figures, from the 19th century, both from Britain and abroad.
General Havelock
Nothing is known about the vessel this figurehead comes from, but the figurehead itself depicts Major-General Sir Henry Havelock (1795–1857). General Havelock was a British general who is particularly associated with India. He was noted for his recapture of Cawnpore from rebels during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Omar Pasha
This figurehead comes from a 225-ton brig built in Nova Scotia by Blythe in 1854. The character represented is Omar Pasha Latas (1806–1871). Of Austrian birth, he later became was an Ottoman general and governor. He was military governor of Lebanon in 1842, and won distinction in suppressing rebellions in Albania, Bosnia, and Kurdistan, but his chief services were rendered in the Russian War. This figurehead is rather unusual in that it has glass eyes.
Garibaldi
Nothing is known about the vessel this figurehead came from, but the ship was wrecked in the Orkneys. The figurehead represents Italian general and politician, Guiseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882). Garibaldi was a central figure in the Italian Risorgimento, as he personally commanded and fought in many military campaigns that led to the formation of unified Italy during the 19th century.
General Gordon
There is no information about the vessel this figurehead came from other than it was a brigantine. The figurehead represents Major-General Charles Gordon, (1833 – 1885), He saw action in the Crimean War as an officer in the British army, but he made his military reputation in China, and became known as 'Chinese Gordon'. He became a national hero when he died defending Khartoum against the Sudanese nationalist army.