Historical Medals

Trinity College, Dublin, a gold award medal by West & Son, bust of Elizabeth I three-quarters right, rev. arms, named (Guilelmus R. Fearon, 1915), 48mm, 21.8ct, 62.10g. Tiny obverse edge nick at 3 o’clock, otherwise brilliant mint state; in original maroon gilt-blocked fitted case by West & Son, 102 & 103 Grafton Street, Dublin £2,400-£3,000

William Robert Fearon (1892-1959), pioneer biochemist, b. Holles Street, Dublin, son of the Presbyterian minister, William Fearon (†1896) of Kells, Co. Meath, and his wife, Nannie, née Morrow; lived with her at 4 Clarinda Park North, Dún Laoghaire; educ. St Andrew’s College, Dublin 1908-11, and Trinity College 1911-17, receiving a BA in natural science (gold medal); received the Harvey research prize from the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin, 1918, and the Carmichael prize from the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin; worked as a researcher for the British food ministry and the food investigations board, 1917-19; Mackinnon research student of the Royal Society at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 1919-21; elected fellow of Trinity College Dublin 1921, and the chair of biochemistry was founded for him there in 1943, a position he held until his death. From 1943 until his death on 27 December 1959 he represented the Dublin University constituency in Seanad Éireann and sat on many government committees. Further biographical detail is sold with the lot.