Lot 684

Description

International Colonial & Export Trade Exhibition, Amsterdam, 1883, award medal in gilt bronze (70mm) by A.Fisch, stamped as gold prize (medaille d'or) obverse, bare head of King Willem III, left, reverse, female figure seated amongst clouds, crowning victor with laurel wreath, items representing agriculture, art and industry at her feet, inscribed around edge 'Rev.Julian E.Tenison-Woods F.G.S. F.L.S.'; Royal Society of New South Wales, W.B.Clarke medal, in bronze (54mm) by Wyon, Royal Mint Sydney, edge inscribed 'Rev.Julian E.Tenison-Woods F.G.S. F.L.S. 1888'. Both medals cased, first case broken at hinge area, first medal nearly uncirculated, second medal uncirculated. (2)

Julian Edmund Tenison-Woods (1832-1889), Catholic priest, educationalist and scientist. He was born on 15 November 1832 at West Square, London. Educated in England he later continued his studies at Marist seminaries in Toulon, France. In 1854 Tenison-Woods met Bishop R.W.Wilson in England and accompanied him to Van Diemen's Land arriving on the Bernicia on 30 January 1855. After a disagreement with the Bishop he left for Adelaide where he worked as sub-editor of the Adelaide Times before entering Jesuit college at Sevenhill. After being ordained in 1857 he took charge of a parish at Penola. His first book on Geological Observations in South Australia was published in 1862. With Mother Mary McKillop he helped found the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in Penola in 1866. Over the next few years he conducted missions and retreats in NSW, Tasmania and Queensland. During this time he also wrote for various religous publications and contributed scientific articles to leading Australian newspapers as well as publishing books. His book on 'Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales' (Sydney 1883) won the medaille d'or at the International Colonial & Export Trade Exhibition in Amsterdam in 1883 and he was awarded the Royal Society of NSW Clarke Medal for his work in natural history. Tenison-Woods died in Sydney on 7 October 1889 and was buried in Waverley Cemetery.