( abbr OM )
one of the British orders of chivalry and the name of the honour that a person receives when he or she is appointed to this Order. The Order of Merit, which is limited to 24 British people and one foreigner, was created in 1902 by King Edward VII for men and women who have achieved great things, especially in the arts, literature and science. Early members included Joseph Lister and Florence Nightingale . Current members include Margaret Thatcher and Lucian Freud . People who are appointed to this order place the letters OM after their name.