Aust Historical Medals

Lot 711    Session 3 (2.30pm Wednesday)    Aust Historical Medals

Estimate $6,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $7,300

AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF N.S.WALES, Instituted 1822, in silver (38mm) handcrafted by Samuel Clayton (unsigned but in his style) reverse inscribed 'To/ Sir John Jamison/ for/ Bennelong/ Blood Stallion/ 1827' (22.3 grams). Reverse slightly beaten otherwise very fine and exceedingly rare, of great historical importance.

Noted for his generous hospitality, Irish-born Sir John Jamison (1776-1844) was a physician, prominent landowner and constitutional reformer of early Colonial New South Wales. The eldest son of Thoman Jamison, surgeon's mate in the First Fleet, Sir John, a naval surgeon, served in many parts of the globe before coming to Sydney in 1814 to manage inherited city and nearby grazing properties. His fortunes with N.S.W. colonial administrations fluctuated for many years but during that period he helped to found the Bank of New South Wales and was involved in some inland exploration. Jamison served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1837-1843. He maintained a strong ongoing interest in improving the public good and devoted much time, money and influence to ushering in English free institutions to N.S.W. Among other things, this resulted in him becoming the first president of the Australian Patriotic Association, founded in 1835. Henry Parkes owed his first job in Australia to a model property called Regentville-with it vineyards, an irrigation scheme and woolen mill-built about 1842 by Jamison. Besides adding extensively to his pastoral lands, Jamison showed a keen interest in horse racing and imported bloodstock. Typical of his involvement with public office, were Jamison's leading roles in the early development of N.S.W. turf clubs. This included his help in founding the old Sydney Turf Club in which he served as president from 1825-27. The same applied to his promotion of improved agricultural practices and greater protection of grazing and agricultural interests. Jamison was also a force for good in fostering education, public benevolence and the study and collection of natural history. He became a member of the Australian Museum and the Botanical Gardens Committee during the 1830's, for example. Jamison has been described as having behaved like a genial and prosperous English squire, entertaining lavishly at his town house and country estate. He married his housekeeper, Mary, in 1844 who bore him a large family-their eldest son, Robert Thomas, serving in the first three parliaments under responsible government. By the time Jamison died in June 1844 he had lost much wealth due to the failure of the Bank of Australia in which he was second largest shareholder. 'The Australian Dictionary of Biography', Melbourne University Press, 1966.