Order of Merit
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The Order of Merit (OM) is a British honour. It was established in 1902 by King Edward VII as a reward for distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. The rarer military awards were disntinguished from the civil by having a pair of crossed swords behind the central medallion.
The order is limited to twenty-four members, but additional foreigners may be added as "honourary members." The order is open to women; Florence Nightingale was the first of them, being appointed in 1907. Members are entitled to the post-nominal "OM." The badge has the appearance of a red Maltese Cross surmounted by a golden crown.
The Indian Order of Merit, recognizing individual bravery by Indian military persons, was originally called "Order of Merit" when established in 1837, and was renamed when the present-day Order was established.
Current Members
- Sovereign: HM The Queen
- Members:
- HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO PC (1968)
- The Revd Prof. Owen Chadwick OM KBE (1983)
- Sir Andrew Huxley OM (1983)
- Dr Frederick Sanger OM (1986)
- Dame Cicely Saunders OM DBE (1989)
- The Rt Hon. The Baroness Thatcher LG OM PC (1990)
- Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE (1991)
- Sir Michael Atiyah OM (1992)
- Lucian Freud OM CH (1993)
- Sir Aaron Klug OM (1995)
- The Rt Hon. The Lord Foster of Thames Bank OM RA (1997)
- Sir Denis Eric Rooke OM CBE (1997)
- Sir James Black OM (2000)
- Sir Anthony Alfred Caro OM CBE (2000)
- Sir Roger Penrose OM (2000)
- Sir Tom Stoppard OM CBE (2000)
- HRH The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC (2002)
- The Rt Hon. The Lord May of Oxford OM AC (2002)
- The Rt Hon. The Lord Rothschild OM GBE (2002)
- Honorary Members:
