Merit, Order of

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Merit, Order of. The order was established by Edward VII in June 1902, limited to 24 persons in the armed forces or of distinction in art, science, or literature. It was based upon Frederick the Great's Pour la mérite and is in the personal gift of the sovereign. The founding members included Lord Kitchener, G. F. Watts the painter, and Lecky the historian. Elgar was given the order in 1911 and the first woman to receive it was Florence Nightingale in 1907 at the age of 87.

J. A. Cannon