temp. HANOVER. Henry Lascelles (Lord Harewood), politician. 1767-1841. WM Medal (40mm, 13.62 g, 12h). 1807 York Election. By E. Thomason. Struck 1807. Good VF.

Electronic Auction 544
Lot: 828. Estimated: $ 100

British Medals, White Metal

Sold For $ 225. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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temp. HANOVER. Henry Lascelles (Lord Harewood), politician. 1767-1841. WM Medal (40mm, 13.62 g, 12h). 1807 York Election. By E. Thomason. Struck 1807. LASCELLES/ FOR/ EVER over crossed laurel branches / IN MIND/ INDEPENDENT/ IN EXERTION/ INDEFATIGABLE; cinquefoil and crossed branches above, branch below. Edge: milled. BHM 624; Eimer –. Pierced, hints of luster, scattered marks. Good VF.

Ex Troy Wiseman (Heritage 416, 16 September 2006), lot 6121.

The May 1807 General Election was held mere months after Parliament abolished the slave trade and was the blockbuster race of its time. Three candidates vied for the two York seats: William Wilberforce, an anti-slavery campaigner, Earl Fitzwilliam (Lord Milton), and Henry Lascelle (Lord Harewood). Lascelle’s family was deeply involved in the slave trade, having extensive interests in Barbados, and was extensively attacked for it by both Wilberforce and Fitzwilliam. Fitzwilliam and Lascelle each spent over £100,000 on the campaign, but it was ultimately Wilberforce and Fitzwilliam who were victorious.

Lascelles would be elected for the Westbury the same year, and again for York in 1812. Slavery was completely abolished in the British empire in 1833 and, in 1837, the Slave Compensation Act was passed. Lascelles, by then having succeeded his father as Lord Harewood, received a payment of £26,307 for 1277 slaves, equivalent to about £2.66 million today.

Closing Date and Time: 16 August 2023 at 14:35:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.