Lots 253-256 relate to four generations of the Smithett family from the 1840s to 1920. Two medals awarded to Sir Luke Smithett RN, the 'Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur', awarded to him by HM Napoleon III in person on April 21st 1855, and the 'Chevalier of the Order of Leopold I', awarded to him in August 1841 Sir Luke Smithett RN was born in 1800 and, at the age of 25, took command of one of the HM Packets on the Irish Station, and later, on the Mail Service between Dover and Calais, which he continued to be associated with until 1854. He was generally selected to accompany the Royal yacht and to conduct Royal visitors to and from this country. He was in command of the vessel which brought the Prince Consort to this country in 1840 and, although he had ceased to be regularly employed on the passage, he commanded the vessel which brought over the Emperor and Empress of the French in 1855. He was engaged at Calais in 1854 at the embarkation of the French Fleet for the Baltic, and married Jane, the youngest daughter of Sir John Hamilton who commanded the HMS Active on October 11th 1797 when Admiral Duncan, with sixteen sail of the line, attacked and captured the Dutch Fleet, under Admiral de Winter, off Camperdown. After his retirement, Sir Luke settled in Dover, was made a Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Kent and was knighted in 1862.