Orders, Decorations and Medals

The important silver medal presented to General Sir James MacDonnell, G.C.B., K.M.T., K.C.H., Coldstream Guards, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations of his Imperial Highness Archduke Carl Ludwig as a Grand Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa 1843; MacDonnell was once known as ‘The Bravest Man in England’ for the part he played in closing the gates of Hougoumont during the battle of Waterloo

Order of Maria Theresa, Jubilee Medal 1843, Karl Ludwig Erzherzog von Osterreich, silver, by I.D. Boehm, 52mm, officially impressed on the edge (sir james mac = donnell) extremely fine and very rare £2000-3000

The Order of Maria Theresa Jubilee Medal was presented in 1843 to all living holders of this rare military order. Each medal was officially impressed to the individual recipient, some of whom chose to adapt them to be worn. At the time of the Jubilee there were five holders of the Grand Cross, including the Duke of Wellington, 17 holders of the Commander’s Cross, and approximately 140 holders of the Knight’s Cross. The silver medal presented to the Duke of Wellington was sold in these rooms on 1 December 1993.

Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonnell was created a Knight of the order in 1815 for his conduct at the battle of Waterloo. His group of orders and medals, comprising G.C.B. and K.C.H. insignia, the Maida Gold Medal, M.G.S. and Waterloo medals, and orders of Maria Theresa and Saint Vladimir, are in the collection of the National War Museum of Scotland. So too, the famous painting by Robert Gibb, Closing the Gate at Hougoumont 1815.

Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonnell of Glengarry, of the Coldstream Guards, was for much of the battle in command of the defence of the buildings of Hougoumont, apparently having been given this task by Wellington in person, who knew the stalwart nature of the man. Subsequently he was nominated by Wellington to receive a £500 legacy to ‘the bravest man in England’, but typically Macdonnell insisted that it should be shared with Corporal James Graham of his regiment, who had assisted him in closing the gates of Hougoumont as the French were breaking in to this vital position.