George Child-Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey (1773-1859), Master of the Horse to Queen Victoria

Sitter in 8 portraits
A keen foxhunter, Jersey was described by Nimrod, in his Crack Riders of England, as 'not only one of the hardest, boldest, and most judicious, but perhaps the most elegant rider to hounds the world ever saw'. He was also a dedicated supporter of horse racing, breeding and training his own horses at Middleton Park in Oxfordshire. Among his successes were Cobweb, who won the Oaks in 1824, and three Derby winners: Middleton, Mameluke, and Bay Middleton. Jersey served as Lord Chamberlain to King William IV in the Wellington and Peel ministries of 1830 and 1834-5, and as Master of the Horse to Queen Victoria, under Peel in 1841-6 and Derby in 1852.