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Medal Name: Kindness and Humanity of Doctor Rose
Struck for: Doctor Frederick Henry Rose
Approval: Act of Congress
OBVERSE
JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Bust of President Buchanan, facing the right.
REVERSE
TO Dr. (Doctor) FREDERICK ROSE, ASSISTANT SURGEON, ROYAL NAVY, G. B. (Great Britain).
Esculapius with his left hand is repelling Time, armed with his scythe, and with his right is offering a draught to the sick, one of whom is thanking him.
Exergue: FOR KINDNESS AND HUMANITY TO OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE U. S. (United States) STEAMER SUSQUEHANNA.
BACKGROUND
Frederick Henry Rose was born January 5, 1833, and entered the British Royal Navy as assistant-surgeon,November 10, 1855. He was employed on the home station, on particular service on the North American, West Indian, and West Coast of Africa stations, until June, 1863. While in Jamaica in April, 1858, with the permission of his commanding officer, Admiral Sir Hewston Stewart, Royal Navy, he volunteered, at imminent personal risk, his services on board the United States vessel-of-war Susquehanna, on which the yellow fever had broken out, and sailed in her to New York, devoting himself to the care of the sick. For this noble deed Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. In 1866 Doctor Rose was placed on the retired list in consequence of ill health. He died at San Remo, Italy, March 31, 1873.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Doctor Rose
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled:That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and requested to cause suitable acknowledgments to be made on the part of this government to Admiral Sir Hewston Stewart, of Her Britannic Majesty's Navy, and officers under his command, for their prompt and efficient aid, and generous hospitality, extended to the disabled officers and crew of the United States ship Susquehanna on her late arrival at Port Royal, Island of Jamaica, with the yellow fever on board; on which occasion, besides placing the naval hospital, with an adequate corps of medical officers, nurses and attendants, at their service, eighty-five of the officers and crew of the Susquehanna were safely and promptly conveyed on shore with the aid of the boats of the British squadron, and the lives of the greater portion of them thereby probably saved. And that the President be further requested to cause a gold medal, with appropriate devices, to be presented, on behalf of this government, to Assistant-Surgeon Frederick H. Rose, of the British Navy, who volunteered, with the permission of his commanding officer, to join the Susquehanna, and, at imminent personal risk, devoted himself, on the voyage from Jamaica to New York, to the care of the sick remaining on board. And that the President cause suitable testimonials to be in like manner presented to the medical officers in the British service, in attendance at the hospital, with appropriate rewards to the nurses and other attendants there, whilst occupied by the officers and crew of the Susquehanna.
Approved May 11, 1858.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)