Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Marine Society Reward of Merit, Britannia holding the hand of a young sailor, ‘Marine Society Instituted MDCCLVI’, in exergue, ‘Incorporated MDCCLXXII’; reverse: a wreath of rose, thistle and shamrock enclosing inscription (name engraved), ‘Reward of Merit to Charles Vaughan’, 47mm., silver, steel claw and ring suspension, good very fine £60-80

The Marine Society was instituted in 1756, at the start of the Seven Years War, by Fowler Walker, Sir John Fielding and Jonas Hanway. Its aim was to encourage poor men and boys to join the Royal and Merchant Navies. In this it was successful, and by the end of the war in 1764, it had recruited 5,451 men and 5,174 boys for service at sea. Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1772 to apprentice poor boys to the Royal and Merchant Navies; it clothed them and provided them with an education suitable for their future employment. In 1783, Hanway published a paper promulgating the establishment of schools in every seaport for the training of boys for the sea. So large a concept was beyond the means of the Society but it led the way and in 1786 it commissioned the first pre-sea training ship, the Beatty, a sloop which housed 30 boys together with a superintendent, mate, schoolmaster, boatswain and cook. In later years, other organizations followed their example.

Sold with original parchment certificate reading, ‘Marine Society, Bishopsgate Street, London. This Certificate testifies that Charles Vaughan was apprenticed sent by this Society on into the Royal Navy 4th of November 1845 and having faithfully served his Apprenticeship, has been rewarded with the Medal of this Society for Good Conduct’. Signed and dated 31 July 1851 and bearing the paper seal of the Society.