A naval officer from Perthshire, Duncan's career had been worthy but unremarkable until his last posting, when he emerged as one of Britain's heroes of the Napoleonic Wars. Duncan's victory over the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797 was crucial in Britain's struggle against Napoleon who was allied with the Dutch after the Dutch Republic had been invaded by French forces in 1795. This medallion, modelled that year by Glasgow-born James Tassie, was produced in great numbers to appeal to a patriotic market.