medal
- Museum number
- SSB,228.18
- Description
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Tin medal. (whole)
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Draped bust of Lord Stanhope, bare head left. (obverse)
- Production date
- 1795
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 41.500 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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Bindman
Lord Stanhope is described as "The minority of one . . . the friend of trial by jury, liberty of the press, parliamentary reform, annual parliaments, habeas corpus act, abolition of sinecures, and of a speedy peace with the French Republic".
Charles, Earl Stanhope (1753-1816) earned his title on 6 January 1795 when he found himself the sole supporter of his motion, in the House of Lords, against British interference in the internal affairs of France. On 4 February he chaired a meeting at the Crown and Anchor tavern to celebrate the acquittal of his sons' tutor Jeremiah Joyce at the previous year's treason trials. His speech to the meeting was published and widely circulated and it is likely to have been at this period that the medal was struck.
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Brown 1980 states:
Charles Stanhope, third Earl Stanhope (1753-1816). He gave a grand entertainment on 23rd December, 1794 at his house, Chevening Hall in Kent, to his neighbours and tenants to celebrate the acquittal of Jeremiah Joyce (1763-1816), secretary of the Unitarian Society who, whilst tutor to Lord Stanhope's sons, was imprisoned on a charge of treason. He was liberated without trial after the acquittal of Tooke, Thelwall and Hardy. The entertainment centred around a large group of emblematic figures in the centre of which was displayed 'Rights of Juries' in large characters. The acquittals celebrated included those of Hardy, Tooke etc., which were considered as the Triumph of truth and innocence and to give people confidence in the justice of their laws, integrity of juries and independence of judges. This medal was probably produced by Stanhope's admirers. See also Brown 1 p88.377.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1818
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- SSB,228.18
- C&M catalogue number
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MB3 (Brown 1) (95) (405)