Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An important and early Royal Humane Society Silver Medal awarded to Professor E. Coleman, who held the office of Professor and Director of the Royal Veterinary College for 45 years and was recognised by the Society as ‘a young man of extraordinary hope’ after composing An Essay on Suspended Animation which engaged in the study of asphyxia

Royal Humane Society, large silver medal, engraved to reverse ‘Ne Silentio Transeat Vita. Adivdicatvm Edvo. Coleman Adolescenti Eximie Spei, 1790.’ pierced with silver loop suspension, nearly very fine and rare £300-£400

Edward Coleman was born in June 1765 in Kent, the son of ‘a respectable yeoman of Romney Marsh’, who placed his son - at the age of 17 - as an apprentice to Mr. Kite, a Surgeon at Gravesend. Sent to London in 1789, Coleman came under the guidance of Mr. Cline and soon devoted his time to the study of asphyxia; his work resulted in the Medal of the Royal Humane Society in 1790 and invitations to scientific lectures in Leicester Square. Removed to Fenchurch Street, Coleman began practice as a surgeon and was later able to conduct experiments at St. Thomas’ and Guy’s Hospitals; through his acquaintance with Mr. Phipps, an oculist, he was led to study the eye, becoming proficient in drawing that organ, both human and comparative.

Appointed Professor at the Royal Veterinary College, Coleman spent his career tirelessly striving to raise the art of surgery in the estimation of the general public and to give its practitioners a much higher status; early in his Directorship he obtained an annual grant of money from Parliament and succeeded in gaining the patronage of the King, without which the privilege of using the word ‘Royal’ as a designation to the College would not have been possible. Appointed Veterinary Surgeon General to the Army, he was permitted to select graduates from the College for the office of Veterinary Surgeon to the Cavalry Regiments. In March 1835, he was presented with a marble bust of himself by the students and fellow practitioners of the Royal Veterinary College, the respect for their 70-year-old teacher being clear to see; Coleman died shortly thereafter at his work on 14 July 1839, after ‘a life of great gratification and extensive usefulness’ (The Veterinary Record of 19 September 1891, refers).

Sold with an extensive file of research, including the recipient’s award winning dissertation and copied images of his bust and memorial tablet at Burmarsh Church, Kent.