Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 43 25 Mar 2020
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The Pavilion Collection, Commemorative Medals, George IV, visit to Ireland 1821, personalised white metal medal, by ? J. G. Hancock, laureate bust l., ASCENDED THE BRITISH THRONE..., rev. Irish harp above rose, shamrock and thistle, IRELAND HAILS WITH JOY..., as lot 556 above, with added inner legend in small capitals, LANDED AT HOWTH 12TH 5 PM FROM THE LIGHTNING STEAM PACKET CAPTAIN SKINNER THE DAY HE ATD. 59 YEARS, 45.5mm. (BHM.1120, R), pierced, extremely fine
*ex Al Rosen (Toronto, Canada) Collection, bt. July, 2006
See note to previous lot. The Royal entourage had sailed from Portsmouth as far as Holyhead in Anglesey where, because of inclement weather, they transferred to the newly introduced Post Office steam-packet Lightning (an 8-knot paddle steamer) on 7 August, arriving, unexpected, in Howth the following day. The King's welcome was joyous and distinctly informal. His speech in response to the welcome in Dublin ended, 'This day has shown me that I am beloved by my Irish subjects. Rank, station, honours, are nothing; but to feel that I live in the hearts of my Irish subjects is to me exalted happiness. I must now once more thank you for your kindness, and bid you farewell. Go and do by me as I shall do by you - drink my health in a bumper; I shall drink all yours in a bumper of good Irish whisky.' Meanwhile, to honour of the occasion the Lightning was renamed the Royal Sovereign King George the Fourth. The legend is confusing in that it was the King's 59th birthday was commemorated with this scarce medal and not that of Captain Skinner. John McGregor Skinner was an American, born in New Jersey and, serving in the Royal Navy, lost an arm in the War of Independence and an eye fighting the French in the West Indies. Aged 72 he was drowned in a storm off Holyhead in October 1832 and a monument was erected to him.
(60-80 GBP)
*ex Al Rosen (Toronto, Canada) Collection, bt. July, 2006
See note to previous lot. The Royal entourage had sailed from Portsmouth as far as Holyhead in Anglesey where, because of inclement weather, they transferred to the newly introduced Post Office steam-packet Lightning (an 8-knot paddle steamer) on 7 August, arriving, unexpected, in Howth the following day. The King's welcome was joyous and distinctly informal. His speech in response to the welcome in Dublin ended, 'This day has shown me that I am beloved by my Irish subjects. Rank, station, honours, are nothing; but to feel that I live in the hearts of my Irish subjects is to me exalted happiness. I must now once more thank you for your kindness, and bid you farewell. Go and do by me as I shall do by you - drink my health in a bumper; I shall drink all yours in a bumper of good Irish whisky.' Meanwhile, to honour of the occasion the Lightning was renamed the Royal Sovereign King George the Fourth. The legend is confusing in that it was the King's 59th birthday was commemorated with this scarce medal and not that of Captain Skinner. John McGregor Skinner was an American, born in New Jersey and, serving in the Royal Navy, lost an arm in the War of Independence and an eye fighting the French in the West Indies. Aged 72 he was drowned in a storm off Holyhead in October 1832 and a monument was erected to him.
(60-80 GBP)