"1897" Fire Department of New York Hugh Bonner Award Medal. Bronze. About Uncirculated.

51 mm. Obv: Peripheral inscription ENDOWED IN 1897 BY A FUND CONTRIBUTED IN HONOR OF HUGH BONNER CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT N.Y., bust of Bonner left in center. Signed TIFFANY & CO. on bust truncation. Rev: Wreath with image of fire and hoses at base encloses inscription PRESENTED / TO / (blank) / IN RECOGNITION OF / HEROISM IN THE / DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY / AS A FIREMAN. Possibly a finished medal. This award medal was named in honor of Chief Hugh Bonner, "a stalwart Chief of Department who preferred to rule by example." The medal first was awarded in 1897. Sponsored by the FDNY Foundation. In 1904, after having served as fire chief of the New York City Fire Department, Bonner moved to the Philippines (at that time an American territory), where he was the fire chief of Manila. Upon returning to the United States, he was appointed the 6th Fire Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. on February 10, 1908, and served in that position until his death a month later, on March 13, 1908.

From the Tiffany Froundry.