Order of St Michael and St George in the context of "Orders of chivalry"

An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is a society, fellowship and college of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades (c. 1099–1291) and paired with medieval concepts of ideals of chivalry.

Since the 15th century, orders of chivalry, often as dynastic orders, began to be established in a more courtly fashion than could be created ad hoc. These orders would often retain the notion of being a confraternity, society or other association of members, but some of them were ultimately purely honorific and consisted of a medal decoration. In fact, these decorations themselves often came to be known informally as orders. These institutions in turn gave rise to the modern-day orders of merit of sovereign states.

Ryszard Kaczorowski, GCMG ([ˈrɨʂart kat͡ʂɔˈrɔfskʲi] ; 26 November 1919 – 10 April 2010) was a Polish statesman. From 1989 to 1990, he served as the last president of Poland-in-exile. He succeeded Kazimierz Sabbat, and resigned his post following Poland's regaining independence from the Soviet sphere of influence and the election of Lech Wałęsa as the first democratically elected president of Poland since before the Second World War. He died on 10 April 2010 in the plane crash near Smolensk, Russia, along with the president of Poland Lech Kaczyński and other senior government officials.

Sir Richard Francis Burton, KCMG, FRGS, (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, army officer, writer and scholar. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa and South America, as well as his extensive knowledge of languages and cultures, speaking up to 29 different languages.

Born in Torquay, Devon, Burton joined the Bombay Army as an officer in 1842, beginning an eighteen-year military career which included a brief stint in the Crimean War. He was subsequently engaged by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to explore the East African coast, where Burton along with John Hanning Speke led an expedition to discover the source of the Nile and became the first European known to have seen Lake Tanganyika. He later served as the British consul in Fernando Pó, Santos, Damascus and Trieste. Burton was also a Fellow of the RGS and was awarded a knighthood in 1886.

Sir Robert Hamilton Lang, KCMG (1832-1913) was a Scottish-born financier, diplomat and collector of antiquities.

Civil awards and decorations are awarded to civilians for distinguished service or for eminence in a field of endeavour. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature. There are various forms of civil awards and decorations, including the following.

• Orders of chivalry, usually in several classes, for distinguished service to the government, the community, society or humanity. One example that is non-military in nature would be the British Order of St Michael and St George. Other orders may contain both military and civil divisions, such as the Order of the British Empire.
• State orders that are not orders of chivalry, for service to the government, the community, society or humanity. An example would be the Order of Canada, or certain Orders of the Russian Federation.
• Awards and decorations for service to the government or for eminence in a field of endeavour. Examples are the American Congressional Gold Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service.
• Awards and decorations for bravery of civilians (including law enforcement and firefighting personnel). Examples would be the British George Cross, and the American Lifesaving Medal.
• Awards and decorations for distinguished service in law enforcement, firefighting and other services.
• Awards and decorations for long service in government, law enforcement, firefighting and other services.
• Awards and decorations that are international in nature, such as the United Nations Public Service Awards, the Nobel Prize, and Olympic medals.
• Awards and decorations for women, such as the Order of Maternal Glory and the Cross of Honour of the German Mother.
• Service in the Merchant Navy, such as the British Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service.

On everyday occasions, only miniature insignia, often in the form of a circular rosette, are normally worn.