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England - 1794

Hon. T. Erskine - 2nd

Obverse
Obverse:
Draped bust of Thomas Erskine bare head, left. HON. T. ERSKINE.
Size:
29 mm.
Reverse
Reverse:
A FRIEND / TO FREEDOM / & RIGHTS / OF MAN.

England — Middlesex

D & H 1010 — Political and Social Series - II

 
O:    Bust to left. HON. T. ERSKINE.
A. 85
R:    A FRIEND | TO FREEDOM | & RIGHTS | OF MAN.
 
 

BHM:

AE 29 by ?
AE RR.
D. & H. Middx. 1010; E.P.M. 1891/80.
NMA.
 
Thomas Erskine, first Baron Erskine (1750-1823) bought a commission in the 1st Royal Regiment of Foot in 1768 and subsequently published a pamphlet on Abuses in the Army. He later studied for the Bar and was called in 1778. He achieved fame by obtaining a verdict of 'not guilty' for Lord George Gordon and extensively moulded English commercial law. He was an intimate friend of Sheridan and Fox but spoke ineffectively on his East India Bill. As a result of his defending Thomas Paine he lost his office of Attorney General to the Prince of Wales. He was an ardent supporter of negro emancipation and in retirement studied farming and wrote Armata a political romance. He married for a second time at Gretna Green in 1821.
from British Historical Medals, Volume I, p. 87