Georgian / Post Napoleonic Royal East India Company (EIC) Volunteers Officer's Gilt Open-backed Tunic Coatee Button

Circa 19.5mm in diameter, semi convex button, with original shank and maker marked I. McGowan, London (this mark was used in the early 1800s but this pattern of button was worn until 1834 - see below). In fabulous condition, double gilt finish. Superb. Scarce.

Despite being at peace since Waterloo, a small number of volunteer corps were reformed in the 1820s. One such was a reformed regiment of Royal East India Volunteers embodied in 1820, “upon the plan of the regiments maintained by the Company during the late war.” The field officers of the new formation were drawn from the Directors, company officers from officers and clerks, and the NCO’s and privates from the warehouse establishment. By Royal consent, they were to wear an updated version of “the same uniform as was fixed upon by his late Majesty” for the three earlier regiments of EIC volunteers, with Royal facings of blue, the officers’ edged with gold lace. The regiment was expected to be “particularly valuable as a local force, applicable to any emergency in the metropolis,” but also, maybe more importantly, for “the protection of the valuable property deposited in the extensive warehouses of the Company."

Its expenses were entirely defrayed by the EIC; by the turn of the ‘thirties these amounted to well over three thousand pounds a year, about the same as the Directors’ gratuities. With the reform of the Company’s affairs in 1834, these payments were stopped, and in March of that year the regiment was disembodied, though as a Royal favour, officers were permitted to retain their ranks and honours.

Final photo is provided for information only, it shows an officer of the corps saluting, from Rowlandson's superb work on the London volunteers.

Comm MaFi

Code: 69535