Sir Roy Strong (1935-), Art historian and museums director; Former Director of the National Portrait Gallery

Sitter associated with 17 portraits
Museum director, writer and gardener. Strong was born in Winchmore Hill, north London, and after Edmonton Grammar School and a degree in History from the University of London, he took a PhD at the Warburg Institute. He became a Research Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research and in 1959 was appointed Assistant Keeper at the National Portrait Gallery. In 1967, aged 32, he became Director of the Gallery, which he revitalised with innovative exhibitions such as Beaton Portraits (1968) and Samuel Pepys (1970). Strong was appointed Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1974, where he reinvigorated the Museum's commitment to the art and design of today, and oversaw a provocative exhibition policy.