Australian Historical Medals

Lot 336    SESSION 2 (11.30AM TUESDAY 26TH JULY)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $750

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1880, in silver (51mm), by H.Stokes, edge impressed, 'Right Hon. Viscount Canterbury - For Services'. Good very fine.

In the Exhibition Report it states the London Committee - Right Honourable Viscount Canterbury and also he is listed as a Commissioner. Graham Berry, Chief Secretary, Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 7 July 1879 wrote, 'Exhibition 1880. The Governor with the advice of the Executive Council has been pleased to appoint the Right Honourable Viscount Canterbury...and others...to be additional members of the Commission appointed on 20 March last to carry out and superintend the Melbourne Exhibition 1880.'

Viscount Canterbury was educated at Eton, Trinity and Cambridge (M.A.). Appointed to House of Commons in 1839 but unseated for bribery. He served as Lieut. Governor of New Brunswick 1854-61, and Governor of Trinidad 1864-66. On 15 August 1866 he was attacked by Gavan Duffy 'as an impoverished peer whose business in the colonies was to increase his balance at the bank.' His father had died insolvent in 1845. He became the 3rd Viscount of Canterbury when his brother died in 1869. His popularity in Victoria was well established when he left in 1873 to take up his seat in the House of Lords and he was appointed G.C.M.G.