Order of St Michael and St George

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) whilst he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III. The Order includes three classes, in descending order of seniority:

History

The Order was originally founded to commemorate the British protectorate over the Ionian Islands, which had come under British control in 1814 and had been granted its own constitution in 1817. It was intended to reward "natives of the Ionian Islands and of the island of Malta and its dependencies, and for such other subjects of his majesty as may hold high and confidential situations in the Mediterranean."

Related Topics:
Ionian Islands - 1814 - 1817 - Malta - Mediterranean

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In 1864, however, the protectorate was repudiated and the Ionian Islands became a part of Greece. The Order's basis was revised in 1868; membership was granted to those who "hold high and confidential offices within Her Majesty's colonial possessions, and in reward for services rendered to the Crown in relation to the foreign affairs of the Empire." Accordingly, Governors-General of the Commonwealth Realms are typically appointed Knight Grand Cross or Knight Commander, either at the start or at the end of their terms as Governor-General, unless the Realm in question has its own system of honours. The practice was ended for Australia in 1989 and New Zealand in 2001.

Related Topics:
1864 - Greece - 1868 - Governors-General - Commonwealth Realm - Australia - New Zealand

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