40 Rußland: St Andreas Orden - Bruststern zur Ordensdekoration aus dem Besitz des Feldmarschalls George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge
Silver. The medallion is gold-plated and enamelled. On a pin with double eagle hallmark, the manufacturer's mark Keibel, the silver mark ‘84’ and the city mark of St. Petersburg. The reverse side of the star is gold-plated and bears the same hallmark.
The medallion has a separately applied order motto and the Russian double-headed eagle with St. Andrew's Cross in the medallion.
A magnificent example of the finest Russian goldsmith work by the order jeweller Julius Keibel, St. Petersburg.
This specimen was awarded to British Field Marshal Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge (1819 - 1904).
rinz George William Frederick Charles of Great Britain, Ireland and Hanover, 2nd Duke of Cambridge KG KT KP GCB GCH GCSI GCMG GCIE GCVOKJSt J (* 26 March 1819 in Hanover; † 17 March 1904 in London) was a British field marshal and commander-in-chief of the army.
George William Frederick Charles was the son of Prince Adolphus Frederick, 1st Duke of Cambridge, and Princess Auguste of Hesse-Kassel. In November 1837, after a brief period of service in the Hanoverian army, he joined the British Army as a colonel. In 1838–39, he served on the staff of the troops in Gibraltar. He then served in Ireland and became commander of the 7th Light Dragoons in April 1842. From 1842 to 1845, he served in the Ionian Islands. He was then appointed major general. From 1852 to 1854, he was inspector of cavalry.
At the outbreak of the Crimean War, the Duke of Cambridge, as Lieutenant General, became commander of the 1st Division. With this division, he took part in the battles at Alma, Balaklava and Inkerman. He then returned to Great Britain. In July 1856, he was appointed General Commanding-in-Chief of the British Army, the leading military advisor to the Minister of War. In this position, he worked to improve the equipment of the troops and to establish permanent camps. On 9 November 1862, he was appointed Field Marshal.
On 12 November 1887, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of service, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army. He resigned from this command on 1 November 1895.
The Duke married the actress Sarah Fairbrother, a commoner, in 1847. As he had not previously sought the necessary permission from the Queen, the marriage violated the Royal Marriages Act 1772, meaning that the marriage was considered non-existent under British law. The Duchess, who died in 1890, was therefore not allowed to bear a title and was known as Mrs Fitz George. The couple had three children, two of whom were born before the marriage: George William Adolphus (1843-1907), Adolphus Augustus Frederick (1846-1922) and Augustus Charles Frederick (1847-1933).
George William Frederick Charles, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, died on 17 March 1904 in London. The city of Cambridge in New Zealand is named after George.
Important order star from the British royal family. With such provenance, this is a collector's item of the utmost rarity.