With a number of Irish Olympic medals in the bag from Rio 2016 and (fingers crossed) more medals to be brought home by those competing in the Paralympics, we thought it was time to look at some medals housed in the RCSI Heritage Collections.
Recently the College acquired a set of four medals belonging to Sir William Thomson PRCSI 1896. Thomson was born in Downpatrick, Co. Down on 29th June 1843. He undertook his medical education in Queen's College, Galway and Queen's University, Belfast receiving his M.D. and M.Ch in 1872. By 1873 he was Visiting Surgeon to the Richmond Hospital and Lecturer in Anatomy in the Carmichael School of Medicine.
Thomson became a Fellow of RCSI in 1874 being unanimously elected as President two years later. Further distinctions rapidly followed; Surgeon to the Lord Lieutenant, Surgeon-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria and Honorary Surgeon to King Edward VII. Thomson was Chief Surgeon to the Irish Hospital in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902), a hospital he helped establish with Lord Iveagh and Dr George Stoker, Bram's brother.
The medals below signify the remarkable achievements and honours bestowed upon Sir William Thomson during his lifetime. The medals are as follows running left to right:
So what other medals can be found in the collections? Lots look at some that would give you a creak in your neck! The medal below was awarded to Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke, a British neurologist who specialised in the study of the brain and spinal cord. The medal itself is the Royal or Queen's Medal which is awarded each year to two people for 'the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge'. It is a silver-gilt medal and was created by George VI, the first being awarded in 1826. Lockhart was awarded this Royal Medal in 1864 'for his researches on the intimate structure of the spinal cord and brain, and on the development of the spinal cord, published in five memoirs in the Philosophical Transactions and in other writings'.
The next medal to look at is one that is a bit mysterious as it has no background with it and no name carved on it. It is a Victor Pauchet medal dated to 1928. Pauchet was a French surgeon who was respected internationally for his pioneering techniques in stomach and abdominal surgery, his development of new surgical instruments, improvements in anaesthetic techniques and pre and post operative care. In 1928 a medal commemorating his elevation to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour was commissioned by the Duchess of Vendome. Why is there one of these prestigious medals amongst the RCSI Heritage Collections? Who knows?
Another mysterious French medal amongst the collections is one that belonged to Oliver St John Gogarty. Gogarty was a colourful character who was a surgeon, poet, playwright and politician. It was Gogarty's literary talents that led to him winning a number of medals including the Gold Medal for poetry at the Tailteann Games in 1924 and an Olympic bronze medal in 1924 for his poem Tailteann Ode. The medal below has been awarded to Gogarty by the Institut Rudy, a French institute that was founded in 1860. Unfortunately after much research nothing more is known about this institute. What did it award medals for? Is it still around?
The College has awarded a number of scholarships, prizes and medals to students over the centuries and still awards some to this day. A list of these historic scholarships, prizes and medals has just been made available on the RCSI Heritage Collections webpages, click here. Awards boards bearing the names of the various winners over the years proudly hang on the walls of the College's historic building, 123 St Stephen's Green. If the journey to Dublin is a bit too much for you, you can view photographs of all the awards boards here.
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| Sir William Thomson (1843-1909) |
Recently the College acquired a set of four medals belonging to Sir William Thomson PRCSI 1896. Thomson was born in Downpatrick, Co. Down on 29th June 1843. He undertook his medical education in Queen's College, Galway and Queen's University, Belfast receiving his M.D. and M.Ch in 1872. By 1873 he was Visiting Surgeon to the Richmond Hospital and Lecturer in Anatomy in the Carmichael School of Medicine.
Thomson became a Fellow of RCSI in 1874 being unanimously elected as President two years later. Further distinctions rapidly followed; Surgeon to the Lord Lieutenant, Surgeon-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria and Honorary Surgeon to King Edward VII. Thomson was Chief Surgeon to the Irish Hospital in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902), a hospital he helped establish with Lord Iveagh and Dr George Stoker, Bram's brother.
The medals below signify the remarkable achievements and honours bestowed upon Sir William Thomson during his lifetime. The medals are as follows running left to right:
- The most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion's breast badge, gold.
- Jubilee medal of 1897 inscribed 'From the Queen to Sir Wm Thomson, Prest. RCSI 1897'.
- King Edward VII Coronation medal 1902.
- Queen's South Africa medal 1889-1902 inscribed 'Sir W. Thomson, C.B'.
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| Sir William Thomson's medals |
So what other medals can be found in the collections? Lots look at some that would give you a creak in your neck! The medal below was awarded to Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke, a British neurologist who specialised in the study of the brain and spinal cord. The medal itself is the Royal or Queen's Medal which is awarded each year to two people for 'the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge'. It is a silver-gilt medal and was created by George VI, the first being awarded in 1826. Lockhart was awarded this Royal Medal in 1864 'for his researches on the intimate structure of the spinal cord and brain, and on the development of the spinal cord, published in five memoirs in the Philosophical Transactions and in other writings'.
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| The Royal Medal awarded to Jacob Lockhart Clarke in 1864 |
The next medal to look at is one that is a bit mysterious as it has no background with it and no name carved on it. It is a Victor Pauchet medal dated to 1928. Pauchet was a French surgeon who was respected internationally for his pioneering techniques in stomach and abdominal surgery, his development of new surgical instruments, improvements in anaesthetic techniques and pre and post operative care. In 1928 a medal commemorating his elevation to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour was commissioned by the Duchess of Vendome. Why is there one of these prestigious medals amongst the RCSI Heritage Collections? Who knows?
 |
| Victor Pauchet medal dated 1928 |
Another mysterious French medal amongst the collections is one that belonged to Oliver St John Gogarty. Gogarty was a colourful character who was a surgeon, poet, playwright and politician. It was Gogarty's literary talents that led to him winning a number of medals including the Gold Medal for poetry at the Tailteann Games in 1924 and an Olympic bronze medal in 1924 for his poem Tailteann Ode. The medal below has been awarded to Gogarty by the Institut Rudy, a French institute that was founded in 1860. Unfortunately after much research nothing more is known about this institute. What did it award medals for? Is it still around?
 |
| Institut Rudy medal awarded to Oliver St John Gogarty |
The College has awarded a number of scholarships, prizes and medals to students over the centuries and still awards some to this day. A list of these historic scholarships, prizes and medals has just been made available on the RCSI Heritage Collections webpages, click here. Awards boards bearing the names of the various winners over the years proudly hang on the walls of the College's historic building, 123 St Stephen's Green. If the journey to Dublin is a bit too much for you, you can view photographs of all the awards boards here.
Will we be adding a medal to these collections next week at the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards?
Here's hoping!
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy