The Early 19th C. Dolland London Day & Night Telescope is a rare find from the United Kingdom, dating back to the early 1800s. Made of brass and with a distinctive draw with shade feature, this original telescope by Dolland is a beautiful piece of British history. With a 37" draw length, this telescope is not only a  astronomical tool but also a stunning decorative piece for any antique collector

THIS IS SIGNED HM LAMBERT. BELIVED TO BE A ROYAL NAVY OFFICER OF REPUTEIT IS POTENTIALLY OF GREAT HISTORIC INTEREST

DAY AND NIGHT SCOPE

CLOSED LENGTH 19 INCHES DIAMETER 2.5 INCHOPEN LENGTH 37 INCHES INCLUDING SUN SHADE PULLINTERMEDIATE LENS IS CRACKED SEE PICTURESTHERE IS A SMALL CRACK IN LARGE LENS SEE PICTURESEYE LENS COVER IS MISSING

Henry Lambert History. For further information go to:

https://grokipedia.com/page/henry_lambert

Henry Lambert (c. 1784 – 4 January 1813) was a British Royal Navy officer renowned for his service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, culminating in his command of HMS Java and his death from wounds sustained in a pivotal engagement with the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.[1]

Born in 1784 as the son of naval officer Robert Lambert, Henry joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16, beginning his career as a midshipman under Admiral Robert Man. His early service included assignments on frigates such as HMS Virginie in the East Indies, where he gained experience in naval operations against French forces. Promoted to lieutenant while serving on the 74-gun ship of the line HMS Suffolk, flagship of Rear-Admiral Peter Rainier, Lambert demonstrated tactical acumen in regional engagements.

Lambert's rise continued with his promotion to commander on 5 April 1803, taking command of the captured Dutch frigate Wilhelmina. A highlight of his career occurred on 11 April 1804, when, despite being outnumbered, he led Wilhelmina in a fierce battle against the superior French privateer Psyché off the East Indies; the action severely damaged the enemy vessel, killing or wounding over 40 French sailors while Lambert's crew suffered minimal casualties, earning him promotion to post-captain on 10 April 1805. On 14 February 1805, commanding the frigate HMS St. Fiorenzo, he captured the French frigate Psyché after a prolonged chase, a feat commended by Rainier for safeguarding British commerce in the region.[2]

Later assignments included command of HMS Iphigenia in 1808 and, by 1811, the 38-gun frigate HMS Java in the East Indies. On 29 December 1812, during the War of 1812, Java encountered the American frigate USS Constitution off Bahia, Brazil, in a battle that lasted over three hours; Lambert was mortally wounded by a musket ball to the chest, which fractured his rib and damaged his lungs.[1] Despite medical attention aboard both ships, he succumbed to his injuries on 4 January 1813 at age 28 and was buried with honors at São Salvador (now Salvador), Brazil.[1] Lambert's legacy endures through family artifacts, such as his inscribed telescope preserved at the USS Constitution Museum, highlighting a naval lineage that produced several distinguished British officers, including four brothers in military service and a brief marriage with a young child who predeceased him.[1][3]