Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

British Guiana, Sir James Carmichael Smyth, Governor’s Prize, 1834, a white metal medal, unsigned, legend, rev. girl kneels at chair in prayer, 38mm. Pierced, otherwise about very fine £80-100

Provenance: Bt J.D. King 1975.

Sir James Carmichael Smyth, KCH, CB (1779-1838), soldier and colonial administrator, served for 10 years with the Royal Engineers in South Africa. He fought in the Peninsular War and was on Wellington’s staff at Waterloo. In 1829 he was appointed Governor of the Bahamas, moving to be Governor of British Guiana in 1833, in which post he oversaw the emancipation of the slaves. He died in office in 1838