Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 867    SESSION 4 (4.30PM MONDAY 30TH AUGUST)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $500

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION VICTORIA, 1873, in silver (47mm), by Stokes & Martin, Medallists, reverse inscribed, 'Robert L.J.Ellery/for/an Essay on the/Climate of Victoria/1873', and the edge is impressed, 'For Services Rendered'. Hairlines and a small cut on obverse, otherwise extremely fine and rare as a service award and a prize medal.

This medal differs from the normal Exhibition Medal as it does not have the words 'PRIZE/MEDAL' on the reverse (see lot 868).

Robert Lewis John Ellery CMG, FRS was an English-Australian astronomer and public servant who served as Victorian government astronomer for 42 years. Born in Cranleigh, Surrey, England on 14 July 1827 Ellery qualified as a medical practitioner but his main focus was on astronomy. He came to Victoria in 1851 attracted by the discovery of gold. In 1853 the Victorian government established an astronomical observatory and as Ellery had already established a reputation as an astronomer he was placed in charge of the facility.

In addition to his astronomical work, Ellery was one of the founders of the Royal Society of Victoria and its president from 1866 to 1884. In 1882 he became a trustee of the public library, museums and National Gallery of Victoria. He was also a member of the council of the University of Melbourne for many years. In 1873 he organised the Victorian Torpedo Corps and later the Submarine Mining Engineers and was in command until 1889 when he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1900 he was elected president of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science. He was also a keen apiarist and in 1885 he was the first president of the Victorian Beekeepers' Club and editor of the Australian Beekeepers' Journal.

Ellery was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, London in 1873, created a CMG in 1889 and was awarded the Clarke Medal by the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1889. Mount Ellery in Antarctica was named in his honour in 1886. Robert Lewis John Ellery CMG, FRS died on 14 January 1908.