Repository logo
 

Bust of Charles II


Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Type

Image

Change log

Authors

Description

Silver medal. Obverse: Bust of Charles II. Along with another medal (39 RT-LD), it is said to have been presented by the King to Sir Samuel Morland, when he made him his Master of Mechanics; but it is evident that they were struck by order of Morland, and dedicated to the King, and to his own glorification. He disclosed to Charles a conversation which he had accidentally heard, while secretary to Thurloe, between Cromwell, Thurloe, and Sir Richard Willis, when they were contriving a plot to entrap him and his brother into a landing in Sussex. Having thus introduced himself to Charles, he grew in his favour by the variety and ingenuity of his mechanical contrivances, and at the Restoration was created a baronet, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, and had a pension of £500 a year. The King often visited him at his house at Vauxhall to see his inventions and machines, and he was employed in France, at Windsor, and at Euston, in erecting machines for the supply of water. On the Reverse, an inscription reads: "IN ADVERSIS . SVMMO VITAE PERICVLO . IN PROSPERIS . FELICI INGENIO FREQVENS ADFVIT" (In adversity at the utmost peril of his life, in prosperity by his happy ingenuity, he was frequently of service).

Keywords

Ingenuity: Inegnium, Ingenuity: Genius, Portrait, Scientist, Inventor, Laurels, King

Is Part Of

Publisher

The British Museum

Publisher DOI

Publisher URL