Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 54 9 Dec 2020
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Commemorative Medals, The Royal Institution, A Member's silver ticket or pass to Nelson's prize-agent, Alexander Davison round silver ticket or pass, to Alexander Davison (1750-1829), government contractor and Admiral Lord Nelson's prize-agent, ROYAL INSTITUTION 1819, rev. naming in single engraved italics line, Alex. Davison Esq., 32mm (Withers 2680), very fine
*ex A. H. Baldwin vault
Alexander Davison amassed a large fortune as a government contractor when, in partnership with his brother George, they were merchants and shipowners in the Canada trade during the American War of Independence. For a while he served as a member of the legislative council of Quebec. Later he was renowned for his sumptuous entertainments to the Prince of Wales and his 'set', given at his town house in St. James's Square. As a contractor to the armed forces during much of the Napoleonic Wars it was discovered that he was charging an illegal buyer's premium. Although he paid back almost £9,000.00 he was still sentenced to be imprisoned in Newgate for twenty-one calendar months. Davison now is best remembered for financing several acts that glorified Nelson's public image. The medal issued to all who served at the Battle of the Nile is said to have cost him over £2,000 of his own money. He also built a memorial to Nelson on his estate at Swarland in Northumberland. He was listed in January 1800 as an "hereditary subscriber" to the Royal Institution – at the cost of 50 Guineas.
The Royal Institution of Great Britain (located at 21 Albermarle Street, London), was founded in March 1799 in a meeting instigated by Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count von Rumford, and held by the leading British scientists of the age at the Soho Square house of the President of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks. It was to be an organization devoted to the "diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life". Simply put, the aim of the Institution was to introduce new technologies and expand and facilitate scientific education and research for the benefit of the general public. George Finch, Earl of Winchilsea, was elected President in June and it was through his influence with King George III that the Institution received its Royal Charter in 1800. In 1810 the Royal Institution was converted from a private organisation owned by a small number of Proprietors to a public institution by an Act of Parliament
(300-500 GBP)
*ex A. H. Baldwin vault
Alexander Davison amassed a large fortune as a government contractor when, in partnership with his brother George, they were merchants and shipowners in the Canada trade during the American War of Independence. For a while he served as a member of the legislative council of Quebec. Later he was renowned for his sumptuous entertainments to the Prince of Wales and his 'set', given at his town house in St. James's Square. As a contractor to the armed forces during much of the Napoleonic Wars it was discovered that he was charging an illegal buyer's premium. Although he paid back almost £9,000.00 he was still sentenced to be imprisoned in Newgate for twenty-one calendar months. Davison now is best remembered for financing several acts that glorified Nelson's public image. The medal issued to all who served at the Battle of the Nile is said to have cost him over £2,000 of his own money. He also built a memorial to Nelson on his estate at Swarland in Northumberland. He was listed in January 1800 as an "hereditary subscriber" to the Royal Institution – at the cost of 50 Guineas.
The Royal Institution of Great Britain (located at 21 Albermarle Street, London), was founded in March 1799 in a meeting instigated by Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count von Rumford, and held by the leading British scientists of the age at the Soho Square house of the President of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks. It was to be an organization devoted to the "diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life". Simply put, the aim of the Institution was to introduce new technologies and expand and facilitate scientific education and research for the benefit of the general public. George Finch, Earl of Winchilsea, was elected President in June and it was through his influence with King George III that the Institution received its Royal Charter in 1800. In 1810 the Royal Institution was converted from a private organisation owned by a small number of Proprietors to a public institution by an Act of Parliament
(300-500 GBP)