Hampton Roads Naval Museum
Fore and Aft Hat![Location Pin](https://wejunket-comb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/themes/wejunket/assets/images/location_pin.png)
![Wavy Line](https://wejunket-comb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/themes/wejunket/assets/images/bg_header.png)
Hampton Roads Naval Museum
15. Fore and Aft Hat![Location Pin](https://wejunket-comb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/themes/wejunket/assets/images/location_pin.png)
![Wavy Line](https://wejunket-comb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/themes/wejunket/assets/images/bg_header.png)
![Wavy Line](https://wejunket-comb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/themes/wejunket/assets/images/bg_header.png)
In the museum's gallery is this hat, known as either a "cocked" or "fore and aft" hat. U.S.N. uniform regulations adopted in 1813 stated that senior officers, "when in full dress, [are] to wear half boots, cut and thrust swords with yellow mountings, and gold laced cocked hats, the lace not to show more than three-quarters of an inch on each side." While many 18th and 19th century U.S. Naval officers spent a lavish amount of their pay to ensure they were well-dressed, this particular cover took luxury to a different level. According to regulations, the hat only had to have gold lacing on wool cloth. This particular hat, however, used real beaver skin instead of wool, and real ostrich feathers, along with a lavish amount of gold in the lacing. The ostrich feathers by themselves probably cost more than did the lacing. Now on display in the museum gallery is a silver commemorative cup given by the citizens of Norfolk to Uriah Phillips Levy in 1815 in thanks for his service during the War of 1812. Inscribed on the cup are Levy's initials "U.L." and the Latin phrase "Dant Facta Hanc Corman" or "Deeds Gave This Crown." During the war, Midshipman Levy was captured by the Royal Navy while serving on the brig USS Argus off the coast of Ireland. The brig fell to HMS Pelican after a successful commerce raiding campaign in Britain's home waters. Levy and most of Argus' ship's company were sent to the notorious Dartmoor Prison until the end of the war. Levy is well known for being the first Jewish flag officer in the U.S. Navy, an advocate for judicial and punishment reform within the Navy, and the savior of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello after the estate had fallen into disrepair. The Jewish chapel at Naval Station Norfolk is named in his honor.
![Image 1 - Fore and Aft Hat - Hampton Roads Naval Museum](https://media.wejunket.com/images/22fcf94c4f646804e4a2c50184ce5090.jpg)
•••
- Puppet Tour of the Museum
- Hampton Roads
- Seaman's Jacket & ECD uniform
- Battle off the Virginia Capes
- Ville de Paris
- Capture of USS Chesapeake
- 18-Pounder Naval Cannon
- USS Chesapeake
- USS Constellation
- US Gunboat 135
- American Musket, 1812
- First American Drydock
- USS Delaware
- USS Norfolk
- Fore and Aft Hat
- USS Pennsylvania
- Intro to the Civil War
- The Anaconda Plan
- Life At Sea
- Confederate Defenses
- USS Monitor
- CSS Virginia
- Duel of the Ironclads
- USS Cumberland
- USS Congress
- USS Minnesota
- Capture of Roanoke Island
- G.W.P. Custis
- USS Roanoke
- USS New Ironsides
- Engine Room Clock
- Gangway Headboards
- USS Onondaga
- Fall of Fort Fisher
- CSS Richmond
- CSS Florida
- The Civil War Final
- Shipfitters' tools, 1800s
- Steel Navy
- USS Maine
- Spanish-American War
- The Great White Fleet
- Jamestown Exposition
- Naval Station Norfolk
- Birth of Naval Aviation
- USS Truxtun (DD-14)
- USS Subchaser 136
- Mines in WWI
- Propaganda Posters
- USS New York (BB-34)
Map Loading...
Choose Another Adventure
Map Loading...