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This medal has been issued in very small number to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of great Polish explorer and geologist, Sir Pawel Edmund STRZELECKI, 1797 – 1873.
This medal has been designed by the outstanding Polish medalist, Profs. Jozef Stasinski.
Sir Paweł Edmund Strzelecki (also known as Paul Edmund de Strzelecki) KCB CMG FRGS MRS (Polish pronunciation: [ˈpavɛw ˈɛdmunt stʂɛˈlɛt͡skʲi]; 24 June 1797 – 6 October 1873) was a Polish explorer and geologist who in 1845 also became a British subject.
av. The portrait of Cyprian Kamil Norwid, 1821 - 1883
rv. The inscription in Polish; the map of
size – 125 x 124 mm (ca 5” x 5“)
weight – 470.00 gr
metal – bronze, beautiful artistic patina
Strzelecki was born in Głuszyna (then part of South Prussia, today part of Nowe Miasto, Poznań), Greater Poland, in 1797, the third child of Franciszek Strzelecki, a Polish nobleman (Szlachta) leasing land, and his wife, Anna Raczyńska. In
Strzelecki served shortly in the Prussian army in the 6th Regiment of Thuringischen Uhlans, at the time known as 'Polish Regiment' because so many Poles served on the staff. However the stiff Prussian drill did not agree with his character and he submitted his resignation and returned home. There are some suggestions that he deserted the Regiment but in the official history of the Regiment the name Strzelecki does not appear. Not long after, he became a tutor at the manor of local nobility. He felt in love with his young student, a girl of 15, Adyna Turno, but was rejected as a suitor by her father, Adam Turno. There are stories that Strzelecki attempted unsuccessfully to elope with Adyna, but biographers find this unlikely. Adyna and Strzelecki exchanged letters over 40 years but they never married. Strzelecki, provided with funds by his family, travelled in
On 8 June 1834 he sailed from Liverpool to New York. He travelled much in North and
He arrived at Sydney on 25 April 1839. At the request of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir George Gipps, he made a geological and mineralogical survey of the Gippsland region in present-day eastern Victoria, where he made many discoveries. He discovered gold in 1839, however, Gipps feared the effects of gold on the colony and persuaded Strzelecki to keep his discovery secret.
Later in 1839 Strzelecki set out on an expedition into the Australian Alps and explored the Snowy Mountains with James Macarthur, James Riley and two Aboriginal guides: Charlie Tarra and Jackey. In 1840 he climbed the highest peak on mainland
From there Strzelecki made a journey through Gippsland. After passing the La Trobe River it was found necessary to abandon the horses and all the specimens that had been collected, and try to reach Western Port. For 22 days they were on the edge of starvation, and ultimately only saved by the knowledge and hunting ability of their guide Charlie, who caught native animals which they ate. The party, practically exhausted, arrived at
From 1840 to 1842, based in Launceston, Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land), Strzelecki explored nearly every part of the island, usually on foot with three men and two pack horses. The Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Franklin, and his wife, Lady Jane, afforded him every help in his scientific endeavours.
Strzelecki left
In 1845 he became a naturalised British subject.
Towards the end of 1846, the Great Irish Famine was under way and the British Relief Association formed with the sum of £500,000 subscribed for the relief of the sufferers. Strzelecki was appointed an agent to superintend the distribution of supplies in County Sligo and County Mayo. He devoted himself to his task with success, though for a time incapacitated by famine fever. In 1847/48 he continued his work in
He arrived back to
Strzelecki died in 1873 in
He was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Oxford, appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG), and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).
In 1983 he was honoured on a postage stamp depicting his portrait issued by Australia Post.
In
In