Admiral Sir George Henry Richards KCB FRS of HMS Plumper, Silver Plated Snuff Box. Of oval, hinged, form with engraved detail. He held the rank of Captain at the time of this presentation snuff box, circa 1856 - 1861.
Admiral Richards (1820 - 1896) joined the Royal Navy in 1832. He served in South America, the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Australia and in the First Opium War in China. Promoted to Captain in 1854. From 1857 to 1864 he was in command of the two survey ships: HMS Plumper and HMS Hecate. He was a hydrographer on the coast of British Columbia from 1857–1862. He is responsible for the selection and designation of dozens of place names along the British Columbia coast. In 1863 he was appointed Hydrographer to the Navy and held that position until 1874 when he retired.
The Admiralty had a great need for more accurate ocean charts. It was in this context that Richards was asked to organise the scientific cruises of HMS Porcupine and HMS Lightning between 1868 and 1870, followed by HMS Challenger.
He was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society in 1866 and was knighted in 1877. In 1881 he became a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and became an Admiral in 1884.
A portrait of him hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. Mount Richards in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada is named in his honor.
HMS Plumper was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1847 and launched in 1848 as an 8 gun steam powered sloop. Admiral, then Captain, Richards was in command of HMS Plumper from 1856 until 1861. She was broken up in 1861.
In very good condition with no dents, creases or splits. Wear to the silver plating on the cover and higher wear to the underside of the base.
Approximate weight is 79 grams.
Approximate dimensions are 8.2 cm length, 6.6 cm width and 1.7 cm depth.
