Christ's Hospital Mathematical School, Tortoise Shell Box
I am indebted to Peter Barber for supplying me with the following information.
The Mathematical School of Christ's College was established in 1673 " with the assistance of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn as well as Henry Stone "as a Foundation of forty poor boys who . . . may be fit to be . . . taught and instructed in the art of navigation and the whole science of arithmetic, in order that they may be apprenticed to the sea service." The imagery on the medal refers to the different parts of the curriculum, including chartmaking. There were various prizes awarded, of which this is said to be one.
Unfortunately, the Mathematical School proved not to be a great success in this respect. The British Library has a rather lamentable map presented by one of the scholars to the Duke of Marlborough. Samuel Wale painted a view of the School for the Foundling Hospital which is still to be seen in the Board Room in Coram's Museum and on the facade you will see a damaged fresco of mapmaking.
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Id:1909 Q:0