Medal commemorating the 'John Williams' missionary ship. Obverse: Starboard broadside view of the three-masted vessel 'John Williams', barque rigged, under plain sail, inscription in exergue. Legend: 'THE JOHN WILLIAMS MISSIONARY SHIP.' Exergue: 'LAUNCHED AT HARWICH MAR. 20. 1844. 296 TONS; LENGTH 105 FEET, BREADTH 24 FEET 8 INCHES. DEPTH IN HOLD 16 FEET; HAS 10 STATE ROOMS.' Reverse: Inscription, 'THIS SHIP, THE PROPERTY OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, IS INTENDED TO CONVEY ITS MISSIONARIES TO THE ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AND TO BE EMPLOYED IN VISITING THE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF ISLANDS IN THAT OCEAN, IN PROMOTING THE GOSPEL AMONG THEM. SHE HAS BEEN PURCHASED FROM A FUND OF UPWARDS OF £6200, RAISED BY THE JUVENILE FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY.' John Williams was a missionary, working in the Pacific from 1817 until his death in 1839, killed by islanders in the New Hebrides. The London Missionary Society launched a series of seven vessels named after him, the first in 1856.