Orders, Decorations and Medals

The excessively rare R.N.I.P.L.S. Honorary Gold Medal and Gold Boat awarded to George Palmer, M.P.

Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., gold, with Second Award Gold Boat (George Palmer Esq. V.P. Nazing Park, Voted 3 March 1853) fitted within a thin gold frame bearing the naming details and loops for the ring suspension and the chains for the pendant boat, in case of issue, nearly extremely fine £3000-4000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 53; Sotheby ‘Rule, Britannia!’ Exhibition 1986, No. 332.

George Palmer was born on 11 February 1772, the eldest son of William Palmer of Wanlip, Leicestershire and of London. He was educated at Charterhouse which he left to enter the naval service of the East India Company. He made his first voyage in the Carnatic in 1786. In 1788 the narrow escape from drowning of a boat’s crew under his command, first brought to his attention the need for well designed craft. When commander of the Boddam in 1796 he received a complimentary letter from the court of directors for his conduct in an encounter with four French frigates. Palmer left the service in 1799 and in 1802 entered partnership with his father, brother and others as East India merchants and shipowners, based in London. In 1821 he held the office of Master of the Mercers’ Company and in 1832 was elected Chairman of the General Shipowners’ Society. First becoming connected with the R.N.I.P.L.S. in 1826, he thereafter devoted much of his time to the Institute. His plan for fitting lifeboats was used in some twenty vessels of the Institute until the design was superseded in 1858. He was Deputy Chairman of the Institute for some twenty-five years and never allowed any of his ships to go to sea without the means of saving all the life they carried. In February 1853 he resigned his office and was awarded the Institute’s Gold Medal with Gold Boat by the committee for his ‘invaluable services rendered by the lifeboats built on his plan during the past 25 years’; also for his sterling services to the Institute. Palmer also served as M.P. for the Southern Division of Essex, 1836-47, being successful in three hard fought elections, and was at times Sheriff of Hertfordshire and of Essex. He died at Nazing Park, Essex on 12 May 1853. Sold with copied research.