Verdediging van Gibraltar, ter ere van George Augustus Elliot, baron Heathfield 1783

This silver medal was made by Johann Christian Reich to commemorate the defence of Gibraltar, honouring George Augustus Elliot, Baron Heathfield. The medal references a specific historical event, the Great Siege of Gibraltar which took place between 1779 and 1783. It shows a portrait of Elliot on one side, and a depiction of the siege itself on the other. Gibraltar, a strategically significant British territory, was under intense attack from French and Spanish forces. The event captured the imagination of the British public, hungry for news and images that confirmed their naval power. Medals like this served as propaganda tools, reinforcing national pride and celebrating military victories. It's a small object, but full of ideological meaning. For the social historian, objects like this speak volumes about the construction of national identity and the role of visual culture in shaping public opinion. To understand it better, we might research the broader context of British-Spanish relations, the role of the military in British society, and the circulation of patriotic imagery during this period.