For other Orders see Order of Merit (disambiguation).The Order of Merit is a British and CommonwealthOrder bestowed by the Monarch. It was established in 1902 by King Edward VII (based on the Prussian Pour le Mérite) as a reward for distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. The rarer military awards were distinguished from the civil by having a pair of crossed swords behind the central medallion. Appointments to the Order are in the Sovereign's personal gift and ministerial advice is not required. The Order of Merit is a very high honour; it lies outside the traditional system of honours which confer titles but is arguably the most prestigious honour which is still in regular use.
The Order is limited to the Sovereign and twenty-four members, but additional foreigners may be added as "honorary members." From the beginning the Order was open to women; Florence Nightingale was the first woman to receive the Order, in 1907. The Order confers no knighthood or other status, but recipients of this single-class Order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters"OM". The badge has the appearance of a red cross surmounted by a golden crown. The ribbon is red and blue.
Order of Merit medal of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, displayed in the Royal Society, London
The death of Dame Cicely SaundersOM DBE has dropped the number of regular members to 21, leaving three vacancies which the Queen may fill by appointment.
