Royal Humane Society, large bronze medal (successful), (John Thornton, 5 Dec. 1845) edge bruising, otherwise very fine £80-100

John Thornton, a seamen in the employ of the London & Dublin Steamship Navigation Co., successfully rescued Thomas Court Turner on 5 December, 1845, who accidentally fell out of a boat by overbalancing, in the East India Docks. Thornton plunged in with his heavy clothing and with difficulty saved him by dragging the exhausted Turner to a hulk in the dock. Sold with extracts copied from the Society’s record book.