Badge, star and collar: Order of St Michael and St George
Awarded to Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford (1838-1913) on his retirement in 1909.. Badge: Gold seven-pointed star with V-shaped extremities enamelled white and edged gold, surmounted by the Imperial Crown. In the centre, Obverse: St Michael encountering Satan. Motto: 'AUSPICIUM MELIORIS AEVI'. Reverse: St George and the dragon (same motto). Suspended by a Saxon blue ribbon with a central scarlet stripe. Star: Silver star of seven rays, with a gold ray between each, overall the cross of St George in red enamel. In the centre, St Michael encountering Satan within a circular riband bearing the motto: 'AUSPICIUM MELIORIS AEVI'. Collar chain: formed alternatively of lions of England, white enamelled Maltese crosses and the cyphers 'SM' and 'SG' with on the centre front and back two winged lions each holding a book and seven arrows, the front ones supporting a crown.
Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford (1838-1913) entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, in 1852. He served on HMS ‘Swallow’ during the Crimean War and was present at the bombardment of Odessa and Sebastopol. From 1856-1858, he was posted on the Pacific Station on board HMS ‘Satellite’.
He was promoted Lieutenant in November 1859 and served in the Mediterranean until the following year. Bedford was promoted Commander in February 1872 and became flag-captain to Rear-Admiral de Horsey, commanding HMS ‘Shah’ in 1876 during the engagement with the Peruvian ironclad ‘Huascar’.
He was appointed Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1880. Notably, he also organised the flotilla on the Nile for the relief of General Gordon in 1884. From 1889-92 he was Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, and from 1892-95 was Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Stations. In 1894-95 he also took part in punitive anti-slavery expeditions along the West African coast.
He became Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty on 5 May 1895 and was appointed Governor of the State of Western Australia in 1903.
Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford (1838-1913) entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, in 1852. He served on HMS ‘Swallow’ during the Crimean War and was present at the bombardment of Odessa and Sebastopol. From 1856-1858, he was posted on the Pacific Station on board HMS ‘Satellite’.
He was promoted Lieutenant in November 1859 and served in the Mediterranean until the following year. Bedford was promoted Commander in February 1872 and became flag-captain to Rear-Admiral de Horsey, commanding HMS ‘Shah’ in 1876 during the engagement with the Peruvian ironclad ‘Huascar’.
He was appointed Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1880. Notably, he also organised the flotilla on the Nile for the relief of General Gordon in 1884. From 1889-92 he was Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, and from 1892-95 was Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Stations. In 1894-95 he also took part in punitive anti-slavery expeditions along the West African coast.
He became Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty on 5 May 1895 and was appointed Governor of the State of Western Australia in 1903.
Object Details
| ID: | MED2158 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Coins and medals |
| Type: | Order |
| Display location: | Not on display |
| People: | Bedford, Frederick George Denham |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
| Measurements: | badge: 89 mm; star: 87 mm |
| Parts: | Badge, star and collar: Order of St Michael and St George |