Group of four (4) US. Navy uniform items belonging to Hugh Young Purviance (1799-1882), 6 items total. 1st item: Naval dress bicorn hat or Chapeau with the original custom fitted metal case, comprised of a beaver pelt over a hard shell form with gilt gold hat epaulettes. Retains the original retailer label reading “W. H. Smith & Co./No. 4/Maiden-Lane/N. Y. Hat – 17 1/2″ W x 9″ H. Case – 8″ H x 10″ D x 18 1/4″ W. 2nd & 3rd items: Pair of M1852 US Naval Captain dress epaulettes with gilt eagle button, silver bullion star and silver eagle medallion, housed in the original metal storage case. Case – 6″ H x 9″ W x 6 3/8″ D. 4th item: Collection of U S Navy embroidered insignias including a U.S. (Union) Naval Officers hat insignia, two (2) 1864-1866 Commodore straps and 1 tassel, all house in a red leather folio case. Folio – 7 1/4″ H x 5″ W. 5th-6th items: Two (2) American Military Hats including an American 18th century military tricorne or cocked hat, comprised of felt with gilt band and an Officer’s silk hat cockade with a small gilt eagle under an E. Pluribus Unum banner to the center, (10 3/4″ D x 10″ W), and a Red woolen cap, perhaps a seaman’s cap, with gilt bullion button to the center front above the brim and brass button closures at the neck, 19th century, (10 1/2″ H x 11” W, at widest point). Provenance: Baltimore estates of Virginia Howard Miller (c. 1880-1946) and Hugh Purviance King (1873-1966) passed down to present Living Estate of Virginia Johnston, Lookout Mountain, TN. Biography: PURVIANCE, Hugh Young, naval officer, was born in Baltimore, Md., March 22, 1799. He attended St. Mary’s college, Baltimore, and on Nov. 3, 1818, was warranted midshipman in the U.S. navy. His midshipman service was on the frigates Congress and Franklin of the Pacific squadron, 1819-23, and on the North Carolina of the Mediterranean squadron, 1824-27. He was promoted lieutenant, March 3, 1827; was an officer on the sloop Falmouth of the West India squadron, 1828-30; on the sloop Peacock of the East India squadron, 1833-34; on rendezvous at Baltimore, Md., 1836-37, and on the Brazil squadron, [p.431] where he commanded the brig Dolphin and the sloop Fairfield, 1837-38, and during this service he relieved an American schooner from the French blockade at Salado, River Platte, for which act he received complimentary recognition from the U.S. government. He was on the Brandywine of the Mediterranean squadron, 1841-42; in command of the brig Pioneer on the coast of Africa in 1843, and of the U.S. frigate constitution in the Mexican blockade in 1846. As commander, which rank he attained March 7, 1849, he was on the receiving-ship Consort at Baltimore, Md., 1850-51, and the sloop Marion on the coast of Africa, 1852-55. As captain, to which rank he was promoted Jan. 28, 1856, he commanded the frigate St. Lawrence in the blockade of Charleston and the southern coast in 1861, and captured and sunk the Confederate privateer Petrel when just twelve hours out. He also captured several other prizes and engaged his ship in the right with the Merrimac, March 9, 1862, and in the attack on Sewall’s Point, Hampden Roads. He was retired Dec. 21, 1861; was promoted commodore on the retired list July 16, 1862; served as light-house inspector, 1863-65, and was promoted rear-admiral on the retired list Feb. 25, 1881. He died in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 21, 1882. (source: Ancestry.com). CONDITION: 1st-4th items: Overall very good condition with general wear use and normal age wear. 5th item: Overall mold, spotting, likely faded from original color. 6th item: Scattered insect damage, primarily to the back.