 Duke of Clarence Appointed Lord High Admiral Medal, 1827. Gilt Silver, 65mm. By J. Henning. BHM 1296. About Uncirculated. Obv. The Duke's head l. Rev. Britannia with shield and trident standing r. at the water's edge, ship r. in background, HER MARCH IS O'ER THE MOUNTAIN WAVE HER HOME IS ON THE DEEP. With original circular black leather case with plush blue interior, part of clasp missing. (Est. $250-$350)
Third son of George III, William Henry, Duke of Clarence entered the navy at 13 and served on the 'Royal George' under Rodney in the Mediterranean and under Hood in the West Indies. The death of his elder brother, the Duke of York in 1827 elevated William to heir apparent. As such he was appointed Lord High Admiral of England, a post revived for the occasion (and a post from which he resigned a year later after objections raised by the Duke of Wellington over expenses).
William had never been groomed for kingship, but the public, contemptuous of his brother King George IV, were willing to overlook this. Upon George's death in 1830, William ascended the throne. Of the new king, the statesman Lord Grenville said ''altogether he seems a kind-hearted, well-meaning, not stupid, burlesque, bustling old fellow and, if he doesn't go mad, may make a very decent king, but he exhibits oddities.''
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