Sir Christopher Charles Teesdale (1833-1893), Army officer and courtier

Sitter in 10 portraits
Teesdale entered the Army in 1848 and by the time of the Crimean War (1854-5) had become Aide-de-Camp to Colonel William Fenwick Williams, British Commissioner to the Turkish Army in Asia Minor. He saw active service in Crimea, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1857. Teesdale's gallantry brought him to the attention of Prince Albert, who appointed him Equerry to the Prince of Wales. He held this post for over thirty years, and in 1877 was additionally made Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria. Teesdale continued to rise through the ranks of the army, becoming Regimental Colonel in 1882 and Major-General in 1887.