Order of Maria Theresa - English circa 1790 and 1808
Two George III unmarked gold seals

One circa 1790 of bell form, open work with beaded sides, the Roman setting intaglio cut carnelian with a coat of arms surmounted by a crest of a griffin segreant, holding a sword in pale, with the motto below Malo mori quam foedari. The other circa 1808 of stirrup form, intaglio cut with an impaled coat of arms, between supporters of soldiers, with FORTITUDINE above, and same motto as above below. (2)

Stirrup seal length across – 3.2 cm / 1.25 inches

Sir Edward Michael Ryan (d.1812), to his son

William Villiers Ryan (1811-1865), to his son

Cunningham Francis Ryan (1842-1888), to his son

Sydney Hamilton Ryan (1881-1964), thence by descent

The arms are for Ryan, and for Ryan impaling Rowan quartering Hamilton

For Sir Edward Michael Ryan (d.1812) married in 1808 Mildred Rowan-Hamilton (b.c.1787) the daughter of Archibald Hamilton Rowan (1752-1834) and Sarah Anne Dawson, who were married 12th November 1781. Archibald the son of Gawin Hamilton (1729-1805) and Jane Rowan (1726-1793).

Edward appointed cornet in the 4^th Dragoon Guards31st May 1789, became lieutenant in the12th Dragoon Guards 31 October 1791, lieutenant in the 15^th Light Dragoons 31^st January 1792, captain-lieutenant and captain 10^th March 1794, captain in the 28^th Foot on 21^st February 1799. Major in Hanger’s Corps 27 February 1799; Major in a Reserve Battalion July 1803; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 1 January 1805; Major in 2nd Garrison Battalion 26 February 1805; Lieutenant-Colonel in 78th Foot 21 February 1811; died at sea en route from Java to England 30^th April 1812.

In the Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies, fought on 24 April 1794, a small Anglo-Austrian cavalry force of the 15th Light Dragoons defeated a vastly more numerous French division during the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars. This was led by the Hungarian Colonel of the second Leopold Hussars, Baron Andrew Sventkerestszy. Upon his report to General Otto and the Austrian Emperor Francis II, the emperor awarded eight British officers involved in this action with a special gold medal since at that time it wasn't possible to award the Military Order of Maria Theresia upon foreigners. The medal crafted by Johann Nepomuk Würth and were delivered to Captain Ryan. Sventkerestszy received only the Cross of Merit, not the order but was presented a sword of honour by the regiment two years later. Captain wrote to Sventkerestszy:

Braydon, 24th April, 1796.

"... All the officers of the regiment greatly desire to see you here. It has long been our intention to Present you with a sword, as a fitting souvenir of the brilliant action at Villiers en Couchies, where as commander you accomplished incredible things. Now, fortunately, an occasion of doing so presents itself… My dear friend, this day fills my heart with great joy. We arranged a grand banquet to celebrate it and drank full glasses to your health and success...” (Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol 17, No. 65, Spring 1938)

On the 7^th November 1800 following a change in the statutes of the Order of Maria Theresa, allowing its award to foreigners for the first time. Permission to wear was granted by King George III and announced in the London Gazette, 2 June 1801. These same officers were appointed Knights of the Military Order of Maria Theresia, a Baron in Austria equivalent to a knighthood in Britain. The recipients were Major William Aylett; Captain Robert Pocklington; Captain Edward Michael Ryan; Lieutenant Thomas Granby Calcraft; Lieutenant William Keir; Lieutenant Charles Burrell Blount; Cornet Edward Gerald Butler and Cornet Robert Wilson.

The whereabouts of Captain Ryan’s gold Villers-en-Cauchies medal are unknown, it was last recorded exhibited by descendants in Wellington, New Zealand at a YMCA hobbies exhibition reported in the Evening Post 9 December 1924.

These arms granted in 1804 to Major Edward Michael Ryan, Knight of the Order of Maria Theresa, created a Baron in Austria - De gueules, au chevron d'argent, ch. de trois têtes d'aigle du champ, au chef du second, ch. de trois branches de houx, feuillées chacune de cinq pièces de sinople. Casque couronné. Cimier: un griffon de gueules, armé d'une épée d'argent, empoignant de sa patte dextre la lame et de sa senestre la garde de l'épée. Lambrequin: d'argent et de gueules. Devise: MALO MORI QUAM FOEDARI.

A document signed by Emperor Francis II confirming the award of the Order of Maria Theresa with the same provenance will appear in our 31 Jan 2026 Autographs and Memorabilia auction. Unexpectedly this transpires to actually be the document written for Edward Butler, a cornet from the group of eight, evidently revealing a confusion between the two Edward’s at the time.