Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The rare silver medal presented to Major-General Sir Frederick Adam, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., Colonel-in-Chief 21st Foot, Governor of the Ionian Islands, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations of his Imperial Highness Archduke Carl Ludwig as a Grand Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa in 1843; this medal was presented to all living holders of Order, of which Adam was made a Knight for his services at Waterloo where the rout of the Old Guard by his Brigade was the turning-point of the battle and ensured victory

Austria, Empire, Order of Maria Theresa, Jubilee Medal 1843, Karl Ludwig Erzherzog von Osterreich, silver, by I. D. Boehm, 52mm, officially impressed on the edge (Sir Friedrich Adam) dark toned, nearly extremely fine and very rare
£1500-2000

The Order of Maria Theresa Jubilee Medal was presented in 1843 to all living holders of this rare military order. Each medal was officially impressed to the individual recipient, some of whom chose to adapt them to be worn. At the time of the Jubilee there were five holders of the Grand Cross, including the Duke of Wellington, 17 holders of the Commander’s Cross, and approximately 140 holders of the Knight’s Cross. The silver medal presented to the Duke of Wellington was sold in these rooms on 1 December 1993, and that to General Sir James MacDonnell on 12 May 2015.

Frederick Adam was born in 1781, 4th son of Rt. Hon. William Adam, of Blair Adam, Lord Lieutenant for County Kinross, by the 2nd daughter of the 10th Lord Elphinstone. He received an ensigns commission in 1795, but continued his education and studied ‘the art of war’ at the Military Academy, Woolwich. He was made Lieutenant in the 26th Foot in 1796, and Captain in 1799. He served with the 27th Foot in Holland from July to October 1799, and was present in several actions. He served four months in the 9th Foot, as Captain, and then exchanged into the Coldstream Guards. Served in Egypt, and was promoted Major in 1803, and in 1805, at the age of 24, purchased command of the 21st Foot. Served in Sicily, and at the battle of Maida. He was appointed A.D.C. to the Prince Regent in 1811, and, in 1813, obtained command of a brigade in the army, and was sent to Spain. His command lay on the eastern side of the Peninsula, where there was a great lack of good commanders, but Adam maintained his good reputation, despite several reverses. When the French stormed and took Ordal on 12 September 1813, he had his left arm broken and his left hand shattered. He was made Major-General in 1814. The rout of the Old Guard at Waterloo by General Adam’s Brigade was the turning-point of the battle, and ensured victory. He died on 17 August 1853, very suddenly at Greenwich railway station.