Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (the master of the mint to the rt. hon. c. bathurst) as issued without suspension, extremely fine and scarce
£2000-2500

On 3 June 1816 the Master of the Mint directed that Waterloo Medals be struck and named at his own expense and presented as a gift from him to various dignitaries and institutions. The accompanying list contained 30 names, including H.R.H. The Commander-in-Chief and the Rt. Hon. Charles Bathurst, Cabinet Minister, although a few other examples are known in addition to those listed.

Born Charles Bragge, Bathurst was the son of Charles Bragge, of Cleve Hill in Gloucestershire, and his wife Anne Bathurst, the granddaughter of Sir Benjamin Bathurst, younger brother of Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst. He was educated at the University of Oxford. In 1804 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Bathurst in lieu of Bragge.

Bathurst sat as a Member of Parliament for Monmouth from 1790 to 1796, for Bristol from 1796 to 1812, for Bodmin from 1812 to 1818 and for Harwich from 1818 to 1823. He was invested a member of the Privy Council in 1801 and held office under Henry Addington as Treasurer of the Navy from 1801 to 1803 and as Secretary at War from 1803 to 1804, under the Duke of Portland and Spencer Perceval as Master of the Mint from 1806 to 1810 and under Lord Liverpool as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1812 to 1823 and as President of the Board of Control from 1821 to 1822. He was also member of the Society of Merchant Venturers and supported the slave trade. He died on 13 August 1831.