1902 Birthday Honours facts for kids

The 1902 Birthday Honours were special awards given out on November 10, 1902. These awards celebrated the birthday of Edward VII, who was the King of the United Kingdom and the British Empire at the time.

These honours were a way for the King to recognize people who had done great things for their country. The list included appointments to different groups, called "orders," and other special awards in the United Kingdom and across the British Empire. The full list of these awards was shared in The Times newspaper and in official government publications called The London Gazette.

This year was also special because it included the very first awards for a brand new honour: the Imperial Service Order. The King had announced this new order earlier in 1902 during his Coronation Honours. It was created to recognize people who worked for a long time in the government's civil service.

What are Birthday Honours?

Birthday Honours are a tradition where the King or Queen gives out special awards to people. These awards are usually announced around the monarch's official birthday. They are a way to say "thank you" for hard work, bravery, or important contributions to society. People can be recognized for many different things, like working in government, helping their community, or achieving great things in their jobs.

The Privy Council

The Privy Council is a group of important advisors to the King. Being appointed to the Privy Council is a very high honour. These people are usually senior politicians, judges, or other leading figures. They advise the King on important matters and help with government decisions.

Some of the people appointed to the Privy Council in 1902 included:

• The Lord Revelstoke
• Sir Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale, who was also a Baronet and a MP
• The Honourable Sir Richard John Cartwright, who was the Minister of Trade and Commerce for Canada

There was also a separate list for the Privy Council of Ireland, which included people like Sir Henry Augustus Robinson.

Becoming a Baronet or Knight

People can also receive titles like "Baronet" or "Knight Bachelor." These are special honours that give someone the title "Sir" before their name.

Baronets

A Baronet is a special hereditary title. This means the title can be passed down through the family, usually to the eldest son. It's a bit like a noble title, but it's not a peerage (meaning they don't sit in the House of Lords).

Some new Baronets in 1902 included:

• Matthew Arthur
• Frederick George Banbury, an MP
• Augustus Prevost, who was the Governor of the Bank of England

Knight Bachelors

A Knight Bachelor is a person who has been knighted by the King. This is a personal honour and the title "Sir" is for their lifetime, but it is not passed down to their children. Many people who are leaders in their fields, like business, law, or public service, receive this honour.

Some of the new Knight Bachelors included:

• Thomas Henry Brooke-Hitching, who was a Sheriff of the City of London
• Colonel Edwin Hughes, a former MP
• William Meigh Goodman, who was the Chief Justice of Hong Kong

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath

Order of the Bath ribbon

The Order of the Bath is one of the oldest and most important British orders of chivalry. It's usually given to senior military officers and civil servants for their excellent service. The order has different levels, like Knight Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB), and Companion (CB).

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)

This is the highest level of the Order of the Bath.

• In the Military Division, Admirals like Sir Robert More-Molyneux and Sir Charles Frederick Hotham received this honour.
• An honorary GCB was given to Prince Arisugawa of Japan.

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)

This is the second highest level.

• Sir Charles Howard, a former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, received a KCB in the Civil Division.

Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

This level is for those who have given distinguished service.

• Many civil servants and military officers received this, such as Walter Jack Howell from the Board of Trade and William Henry Power, a top medical officer for the government.

Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

Order of St Michael and St George ribbon

The Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry mostly given to people who have done great service in foreign affairs or in the British Commonwealth countries. It recognizes diplomats and colonial administrators.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)

• Sir James Lyle Mackay received this for his important work in commercial negotiations with China.
• An honorary GCMG was given to Count Matsugata, who used to be the Prime Minister of Japan.

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

• Henry Austin Lee was recognized for his diplomatic work as an Embassy Secretary in Paris.
• Major-General George Arthur French received this for his leadership of military forces in New South Wales, Australia.

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

• This level was awarded to many people serving in different parts of the British Empire, like Edward Merewether, the Lieutenant Governor of Malta, and Walter Edward Davidson, the Colonial Secretary of the Transvaal.
• Some were also honoured for their services during military operations in South Africa, such as Maurice Smethurst Evans from the Colony of Natal.

The Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order is a special order given by the King himself. It recognizes personal service to the monarch or the Royal Family. It's different from other orders because the King decides who receives it directly.

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

• Viscount Churchill and Baron Farquhar, who both held important roles in the Royal Household, received this high honour.

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

• Sir Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale, who was also the Lord Mayor of London, received this honour.

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

• Rear-Admiral the Honourable Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe was recognized for his service in the Channel Squadron.

Member of the Royal Victorian Order, 4th class (MVO)

• Sir George Clement Martin, the Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, received this for his service.

Member of the Royal Victorian Order, 5th class (MVO)

• Rowland Bailey from the King's Office of Works was among those honoured.

The Royal Red Cross (RRC)

The Royal Red Cross is an award given for exceptional nursing service.

• Mrs. Crowlie received this award in 1902. She was recognized for her help to sick and wounded sailors and marines at the Tientsin Hospital in China during 1900.

The New Imperial Service Order

Imperial Service Order ribbon

The Imperial Service Order was a brand new award created by King Edward VII in 1902. It was specifically designed to recognize people who had worked for a long time and done excellent service in the Civil Service of the British Empire. This means people who worked for the government in various departments.

• Charles Deffell, a Senior Clerk at the Home Office, was appointed as the Secretary and Registrar of this new Order.