Russia, Imperial. A Table Medal for Engineer-General Alexander Wilson, by V. Alexeev, 1856

Constructed of bronze, the obverse bearing a raised and leftward-facing profile of Engineer-General Alexander Wilson, circumscribed by name and title (complete with Russified middle name Yakovlevich), the reverse bearing a raised dedication to Wilson indicating that the medal was issued to recognize the 50th anniversary of his directorship of the Imperial Manufactory of Alexandrovsk and the 62nd anniversary of his dedicated service to the Russian Empire, surrounded by a circular laurel and oak leaf wreath, the obverse designer/engraver marked V. Aleexec directly below the bust, measuring 58.26 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Alexander Wilson was born on 27 February 1776 and emigrated to the Russian Empire at the age of eight when his father James, a smith, found employment with a British firm constructing the Cameron Gallery at Tsarskoye Selo. Wilson attended school in Russia, developing an aptitude for architecture and engineering, which allowed him to find employment alongside his father, whose own career flourished in their adopted country. Over what became an 82-year residence in Russia, the younger Wilson embarked upon an illustrious career which saw the design and construction of notable examples of architecture, arms, coinage, and shipping methods, as well as the introduction of key equipment and methods which helped to introduce the Industrial Revolution to the country. As a military employee, Wilson’s accomplishment appropriately resulted in consistent promotions, culminating in his appointment as Engineer-General in 1853. He was similarly the recipient of four national orders, including a rare grade of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky with diamonds, the latter bestowed during the celebratory year in which the accompanying table medal was also issued. He died on 25 February 1866 and was buried in a family plot in Kolpino.