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Order of Merit

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This article is about the Order of Merit in the Commonwealth realms. For orders of merit in general, seeOrder of merit.For other uses, seeOrder of Merit (disambiguation).

Order of Merit
Badge and ribbon bow of the order
(for wear by female recipients)
Awarded byMonarch of the United Kingdom
TypeOrder of merit
Established26 June 1902
MottoFor Merit
EligibilityAll living citizens of theCommonwealth realms
CriteriaAt the monarch's pleasure
StatusCurrently constituted
FounderEdward VII
SovereignCharles III
Secretary and RegistrarThe Lord Janvrin
GradesMember (OM)
Precedence
Next (higher)Dependent on state
Next (lower)Dependent on state

Ribbon barof the order

TheOrder of Merit(French:Ordre du Mérite)[n 1]is anorder of meritfor theCommonwealth realms,recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 byEdward VII,admission into the order remains the personal gift of its Sovereign—currently Edward VII's great-great-grandsonCharles III—and is restricted to a maximum of 24 living recipients from the Commonwealth realms, plus honorary members.[1][2]While all members are awarded the right to use thepost-nominal lettersOMand wear the badge of the order,[3]the Order of Merit'sprecedenceamong other honours differs between countries.

History[edit]

In around 1773,George IIIconsidered establishing anorder of knighthoodto be called the "Order ofMinerva"with membership restricted to 24 distinguished artists and authors.[4]Knights would be entitled to the post-nominal lettersKM,and would wear a silver nine-pointed breast star with the image of Minerva at its centre, along with a "straw-coloured"sashworn across the chest from the right shoulder.[4]Themottoof the Order would be"Omnia posthabita scientiae"(inLatin,'Everything comes after science'). Once the King's proposal was made public, however, arguments within intellectual circles over who would be most deserving of the new order grew so heated that George ultimately dropped the idea,[4]though he briefly reconsidered it in 1789; on 6 February of that year, he revised the design of the order, with the breast star to have sixteen points, the motto to be the Latin for "Learning improves character" and with membership to include distinguished scientists.[5]Following theBattle of Trafalgarin 1805,First Lord of the AdmiraltyLord BarhamandWilliam Pittexchanged correspondence concerning the possible creation of an order of merit, though nothing came of the idea.[6]

Later,Queen Victoria,hercourtiers,and politicians alike,[7]thought that a new order, based on thePrussianorderPour le Mérite,would make up for the insufficient recognition offered by the establishedhonours systemto achievement outside public service, in fields such as art, music, literature, industry and science.[6]Victoria's husband,Albert, Prince Consort,took an interest in the matter; it was recorded in his diary that he metSir Robert Peelon 16 January 1844 to discuss the "idea of institution of a civil Order of Merit" and, three days later, he conferred with the Queen on the subject.[8]

Though nothing came of the idea at the time, the concept did not wither and, more than 40 years later, on 5 January 1888, Prime MinisterLord Salisburysubmitted to the by then long-widowed Queen a draft constitution for an Order of Merit in Science and Art, consisting of one grade split into two branches of knighthood: the Order of Scientific Merit, for Knights of Merit in Science, with the post-nominal lettersKMS,and the Order of Artistic Merit, for Knights of Merit in Art, with the post-nominal lettersKMA.However,Frederic Leighton,President of the Royal Academy,advised against the new order, primarily because of its selection process.[9]

KingEdward VII,founder of the Order of Merit

It was Victoria's sonEdward VIIwho eventually founded the Order of Merit on 26 June 1902 (the date for which his coronation had been originally scheduled[10]) as a means to acknowledge "exceptionally meritorious service in Our Navy and Our Army, or who may have rendered exceptionally meritorious service towards the advancement of Art, Literature and Science".[11]All modern aspects of the order were established under his direction, including the division for military figures.[3]

From the outset, prime ministers attempted to propose candidates orlobbiedto influence the monarch's decision on appointments. But, theRoyal Householdadamantly guarded information about potential names.[3]After 1931, when theStatute of Westminstercame into effect and theDominionsof theBritish Empirebecame independent countries within the empire, equal in status to the UK, the Order of Merit continued as an honour open to all these realms and, in many, became a part of their national honours systems.[12]The order's statutes were amended in 1935 to include members of theRoyal Air Forceand, in 1969, the definition of honorary recipients was expanded to include members of theCommonwealth of Nationsthat are not realms.

The order has always been open to women,Florence Nightingalebeing the first woman to receive the honour, in 1907. Several individuals have refused admission into the Order of Merit, includingRudyard Kipling,A. E. Housman,andGeorge Bernard Shaw.To date,Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,remains the youngest person ever inducted into the Order, having been admitted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1968, when he was 47 years of age.[3]

The Lord Eamesrepresented the order at thecoronation of King Charles III and Queen Camillaon 6 May 2023.[13]

Eligibility and appointment[edit]

All citizens of theCommonwealth realmsare eligible for appointment to the Order of Merit.[2]There may be, however, only 24 living individuals in the order at any given time, not including honorary appointees, and new members are personally selected by the reigning monarch of the realms, currentlyCharles III,with the assistance of his private secretaries;[3]the order has thus been described as "quite possibly, the most prestigious honour one can receive on planet Earth."[14]Within the limited membership is a designated military division, with its own unique insignia; though it has not been abolished, it is currently unpopulated,Lord Mountbatten of Burmahaving been the last person so honoured.[3]

Honorary members form another group, to which there is no numerical limit, though such appointments are rare; individuals from countries in theCommonwealth of Nationsthat are not headed by King Charles are therefore considered foreigners, and thus are granted only honorary admissions, such asNelson Mandela(South Africa) andMother Teresa(India).[1]

Upon admission into the Order of Merit, members are entitled to use thepost-nominal lettersOMand are entrusted with thebadgeof the order.

Insignia[edit]

Reverse of the badge as awarded during the reign of Elizabeth II, 1952–2022

The insignia consists of a badge, which consists of a golden crown from which is suspended a redenamelledcross pattée,itself centred by a disk of blue enamel, surrounded by alaurel wreath.[15]Theobverseof the badge's central disk bears the wordsFOR MERITin gold lettering, while the reverse bears theroyal cypherof the reigning monarch in gold. The insignia for the military grouping is distinguished by a pair of crossed swords behind the central disk.[2]

Theribbonof the Order of Merit is divided into two stripes of red and blue. The neck ribbon is 50mm in width, while the ribbon bar width is the standard British 32mm size for military or civilian wear.[16]Men wear their badges on a neck ribbon (as anecklet), while women wear theirs on a ribbon bow pinned to the left shoulder, andaides-de-campmay wear the insignia on theiraiguillettes.[15]

Since 1991, it has been required that the insignia be returned upon the recipient's death.[17]

Current members[edit]

Further information:List of members of the Order of Merit

Sovereign[edit]

Name Year of appointment Present age
The King(ex officio) 2002 as The Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022[a] 75

Substantive members[edit]

Member

number[b]

Name Known for Year of

appointment

Present age
1-(169) The Lord Foster of Thames BankOM,RA,HonFREng ArchitectandPritzker laureate 1997 89
2-(175) Sir Roger PenroseOM,FRS,HonFInstP Mathematical physicist and Nobel Laureate 2000 92
3-(176) Sir Tom StoppardOM,CBE,FRSL,HonFBA Playwright 2000 86
4-(180) Sir David AttenboroughOM,GCMG,CH,CVO,CBE,FRS,FSA,FRSA,FLS,FZS,FRSGS,FRSB,HonFLI Broadcaster and naturalist 2005 98
5-(183) The Lord EamesOM Primate of All IrelandandArchbishop of Armagh 2007 87
6-(184) Sir Tim Berners-LeeOM,KBE,FRS,FREng,FRSA,FBCS Inventor of theWorld Wide Web,Founder of theWorld Wide Web Foundationand Director of theWorld Wide Web Consortium 2007 69
7-(185) The Lord Rees of LudlowOM,FRS,FREng,FMedSci,FRAS,HonFInstP Astronomer RoyalandPresident of the Royal Society 2007 82
8-(186) Jean ChrétienOM,CC,KC,PC Prime Minister of Canada 2009 90
9-(187) Neil MacGregorOM,AO,FSA Art historianandDirector of the British Museum 2010 78
11-(189) John HowardOM,AC Prime Minister of Australia 2012 86
12-(190) Sir Simon RattleOM,CBE Conductor 2014 69
13-(192) Sir Magdi YacoubOM,FRS Cardiothoracic surgeon 2014 88
14-(193) The Lord Darzi of DenhamOM,KBE,PC,FRS,FMedSci,FRCSI,FRCS,FRCSE,FRCPGlas,FACS,FRCP,FREng Surgeon 2016 64
15-(194) Dame Ann DowlingOM,DBE,FRS,FREng Mechanical engineer 2016 71
16-(195) Sir James DysonOM,CBE,RDI,FRS,FREng,FCSD,FIEE Inventorandindustrial designer 2016 77
17-(196) Dame Elizabeth AnionwuOM,DBE,FRCN Nurse 2022 77
18-(197) The Baroness BenjaminOM,DBE,DL Broadcaster 2022 74
19-(198) Margaret MacMillanOM,CC,CH,FRSL,FRSC,FBA,FRCGS Historian 2022 80
20-(199) Sir David AdjayeOM,OBE,RA Architect 2022 57
21-(200) Sir Paul NurseOM,CH,FRS,FMedSci,HonFREng,HonFBA,MAE GeneticistandNobel Laureate 2022 75
22-(201) Venki Ramakrishnan[c] Structural biologistandNobel Laureate 2022 72
23 Vacant[d]
24 Vacant[e]
  1. ^The Sovereign of the order, who was appointed a member on 27 June 2002 asPrince of Wales,is technically no longer a member of the Order of Merit. However, as its Sovereign, he may continue to wear the insignia.
  2. ^The number shown in brackets is the individual's place in the wider order of appointment since the Order's inception.
  3. ^Venki Ramakrishnan prefers not to use titles and post-nominals.
  4. ^Vacant following the death ofThe Baroness Boothroydon 26 February 2023.
  5. ^Vacant following the death ofThe Lord Rothschildon 26 February 2024.

Honorary members[edit]

There have been no honorary members of the Order of Merit since the death of the last such member,Nelson Mandela,in December 2013.[18]

Officers[edit]

Secretary and Registrar:The Lord JanvrinGCB,GCVO,QSO,PC

Precedence[edit]

As the Order of Merit is open to the citizens of 15 countries, each with their own system of orders, decorations, and medals, the order's place ofprecedencevaries from country to country. While, in the United Kingdom, the order's postnominal letters follow those of Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, membership in the Order of Merit itself gives members no place in any of theorders of precedence in the United Kingdom.However, Stanley Martin says in his bookThe Order of Merit 1902–2002: One Hundred Years of Matchless Honour,that the Order of Merit is the pinnacle of the British honours system.[3]Similarly, though it was not listed in the Canadian order of precedence for honours, decorations, and medals until December 2010,[19]Christopher McCreery, an expert on Canadian honours and secretary to theLieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia,stated that the Order of Merit was the highest civilian award for merit a Canadian could receive.[20][21]

Some orders of precedence are as follows:

Country Preceding Following
AustraliaAustralia
Order of precedence 		Knight/Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle(KT/LT) Knight/Dame of the Order of Australia(AK/AD)
CanadaCanada
Order of precedence[22] 		Cross of Valour(CV) Companion of the Order of Canada(CC)
New ZealandNew Zealand
Order of precedence 		Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath(GCB) Member of the Order of New Zealand(ONZ)[23]
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath(GCB) Baronet's Badge(Bt)[24]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^For use in Canada, in accordance withthe country's policy of official bilingualism.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ab"Order of Merit".Royal Household. Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2009.Retrieved28 July2009.
  2. ^abcOffice of the Governor General of Canada(19 April 2017)."Order of Merit".Queen's Printer for Canada.Archivedfrom the original on 30 October 2021.Retrieved10 June2019.
  3. ^abcdefgJackson, Michael D. (Summer 2007)."The Order of Merit 1902–2002: One Hundred Years of Matchless Honour by Stanley Martin, CD"(PDF).Canadian Monarchist News / Les Nouvelles Monarchiques du Canada(Book review). No. 26. Oakville, Ontario: Monarchist League of Canada / La Ligue Monarchiste du Canada. p. 15. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 8 July 2009.Retrieved10 June2019.
  4. ^abcHuish, Robert (1821).Public and Private Life of His Late Excellent and Most Gracious Majesty George The Third.London: Thomas Kelly.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved27 November2021.
  5. ^Roberts, Andrew (2021).The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III.Viking. p. 526.ISBN9781984879264.
  6. ^abMartin 2007,p. 11
  7. ^Martin 2007,p. 12
  8. ^Martin 2007,p. 13
  9. ^Martin 2007,pp. 18–20
  10. ^Martin 2007,p. 1
  11. ^Mountbatten, Philip(2007)."Foreword".Written at London. In Martin, Stanley (ed.).The Order of Merit: One Hundred Years of Matchless Honour.New York: I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd. pp. xvii.ISBN978-1-86064-848-9.Archivedfrom the original on 25 November 2021.Retrieved24 September2016.
  12. ^McCreery, Christopher(2005).The Canadian Honours System.Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 98.ISBN9781550025545.
  13. ^"Coronation order of service in full".BBC News. 6 May 2023.Retrieved6 May2023.
  14. ^Editorial Board (15 July 2009)."Order Worthy?".National Post.Retrieved29 July2009.[dead link]Alt URL.Archived1 June 2019 at theWayback Machine.
  15. ^ab"For Children > Medals and Uniforms > Medals > Picture 4: The Order of Merit".Clarence House.Archivedfrom the original on 1 March 2009.Retrieved29 July2009.
  16. ^"British Order of Merit 585429.1".
  17. ^Martin 2007,p. 56
  18. ^"What is the Order of Merit?".thegazette.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2022.Retrieved12 January2022.
  19. ^Government of Canada(8 December 2010)."Order of Merit (O.M.) Order".Canada Gazette.144(25). Queen's Printer for Canada. SI/2010-88. Archived fromthe originalon 19 December 2010.Retrieved10 December2010.
  20. ^McCreery, Christopher(2005).The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development.Toronto: University of Toronto Press.ISBN0-8020-3940-5.
  21. ^Taber, Jane (13 July 2009)."Chrétien 'thrilled' by rare honour from Queen".The Globe and Mail.Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2021.Retrieved1 June2019.
  22. ^Office of the Governor General of Canada(18 April 2017)."Order of Precedence".Queen's Printer for Canada.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2021.Retrieved10 June2019.
  23. ^New Zealand Defence Force."The Wearing of Medals in New Zealand Table – A guide to the correct order of wear".Archivedfrom the original on 24 February 2021.Retrieved1 June2019.
  24. ^"No. 56878".The London Gazette(Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3351.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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