Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver, the outer silver rim engraved (Henry Kennedy Esq., Voted Jan. 30. 1839.) fitted with small ring and wide straight bar suspension, contact marks, nearly very fine £400-£500

Henry Kennedy, a yacht owner, was awarded the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck’s Silver Medal for his gallantry on two separate occasions:

23 May 1838: A pilot boat was upset at night in a heavy squall in Belfast Lough, near Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, Ireland. Mr. Kennedy launched his boat and saved one man.

24 May 1838: Another boat was upset in Belfast Lough, and Mr. Kennedy saved a man although four others drowned.