About Us

On March 4th, 1908, the Irish-American society in San Francisco, the Knights of the Red Branch, awarded Samuel P. Smith, First Mate of the Catalpa, a gold medal in recognition of his heroic service. The medal honors his role as First Officer during the renowned rescue of Irish Patriot prisoners from Fremantle Prison, Western Australia, on April 17, 1876, with the inscription, "Give me liberty or give me death." 

The medal features the Catalpa at its center, flanked on the right by a partially enameled American flag and on the left by a partially enameled Irish flag. An American eagle perches atop the shield-shaped medal. Just below the enameled green water on which the ship sits, there is a star with either a small diamond or glass inset. The bottom of the pin is decorated with a trio of gold leaves and berry patterns.