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John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

(1852-1925), Field Marshal

20th Century Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 24 portraits
Born at Ripple in Kent, French had a distinguished career in the Sudan, in the expedition to relieve General Gordon at Khartoum, and in South Africa where he relieved the siege of Kimberly. As Commander-in-Chief, Aldershot, from 1902, he was responsible for the total reform of military manoeuvres. He became Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1912 and in 1914 held supreme command of the British Expeditionary Force in France. Failure to break the German line at the Battles of Ypres and Loos, saw him succeeded by Sir Douglas Haig on the Western Front in 1915. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces until the end of the war, and became Lord Lieutenant in Ireland in 1918.

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John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by Sidney Cooper Weston, for  Lambert Weston & Son - NPG P1700(48b)

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Sidney Cooper Weston, for Lambert Weston & Son
albumen print, 1890s
NPG P1700(48b)

General Officers of World War I, by John Singer Sargent - NPG 1954

General Officers of World War I

by John Singer Sargent
oil on canvas, 1922
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1954

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by Sidney Cooper Weston, for  Lambert Weston & Son - NPG x39349

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Sidney Cooper Weston, for Lambert Weston & Son
cabinet card, 1890s
NPG x39349

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by Knight, published by  Ogden's - NPG x197039

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Knight, published by Ogden's
cigarette card, published circa 1899
NPG x197039

'King Edward & His Empire Builders', published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x197883

'King Edward & His Empire Builders'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, circa 1907
NPG x197883

'Defenders of Our Empire', published by James Valentine & Sons Ltd, after  Frank Arthur Swaine, and  Langfier Ltd, and  Alexander Bassano, and  Sport & General Press Agency Ltd, and  James Russell & Sons - NPG x197673

'Defenders of Our Empire'

published by James Valentine & Sons Ltd, after Frank Arthur Swaine, and Langfier Ltd, and Alexander Bassano, and Sport & General Press Agency Ltd, and James Russell & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1911 or after
NPG x197673

'F.M. Sir John French, with A.D.C.'s. Commander in Chief in France', published by Realistic Travels - NPG x26381

'F.M. Sir John French, with A.D.C.'s. Commander in Chief in France'

published by Realistic Travels
printing-out paper stereoscopic card, 1914-1918
NPG x26381

Joseph-Jacques-Césaire Joffre; John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by Unknown photographer, and by  Unknown photographer - NPG x137270

Joseph-Jacques-Césaire Joffre; John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Unknown photographer, and by Unknown photographer
hand-coloured bromide prints, published 1914
NPG x137270

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x198222

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1914
NPG x198222

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by James Russell & Sons, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x198223

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by James Russell & Sons, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1914
NPG x198223

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by Reginald Haines - NPG x198224

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Reginald Haines
bromide postcard print, circa 1914
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x198224

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, by Walter Stoneman, for  James Russell & Sons - NPG Ax39002

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Walter Stoneman, for James Russell & Sons
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG Ax39002

'A General Group', by Sir Leslie Ward - NPG D45041

'A General Group'

by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 29 November 1900
NPG D45041

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, supplement to Illustrated London News, after  John St Helier Lander - NPG D36275

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

supplement to Illustrated London News, after John St Helier Lander
photogravure, after 1908
NPG D36275

Web image not currently available

'Men who are making History'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, circa 1914
NPG x193603

Web image not currently available

'Soldiers of the King'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, circa 1914
NPG x193604

Web image not currently available

John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass copy negative, October 1944 (1918)
NPG x169687

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