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William Booth

(1829-1912), Founder of the Salvation Army

Sitter in 39 portraits
Booth was apprenticed at thirteen to a Nottingham pawnbroker. Having converted to Methodism, he joined a group of revivalists who conducted religious services in the streets of the city. In 1849 he moved to London. He devoted his leisure to religion and became a lay preacher. Here, he met and married the like-minded Catherine Mumford. In 1865 he and his wife started the Christian Revival Society, later the Christian Mission, in the East End of London. They held evening and Sunday meetings to offer repentance, salvation and Christian ethics to the poorest and most needy. In 1878 the organisation was reorganised as the Salvation Army, with military titles and uniforms and its own flag and music. Central to the Salvation Army’s approach was the belief that evangelical work among the poor must be accompanied by well-organised social relief work. In 1890, Booth published In Darkest England and the Way Out (1890), which set out a number of these social schemes.

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William Booth, by Unknown artist - NPG 5814

William Booth

by Unknown artist
Staffordshire bust, circa 1900
NPG 5814

William Booth, by David N. Ingles - NPG 2042

William Booth

by David N. Ingles
oil on canvas, after 1912
NPG 2042

William Booth, by Elliott & Fry - NPG x127412

William Booth

by Elliott & Fry
chlorobromide print on cream card mount, 1884
NPG x127412

William Booth, by and after Elliott & Fry - NPG x82272

William Booth

by and after Elliott & Fry
half-plate glass negative, 1884
NPG x82272

William Booth, by Elliott & Fry - NPG x82273

William Booth

by Elliott & Fry
half-plate negative, 1884
NPG x82273

William Booth, by Unknown photographer - NPG x196296

William Booth

by Unknown photographer
albumen print, 1890s?
NPG x196296

William Booth, by Unknown photographer - NPG x196298

William Booth

by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 1890s?
NPG x196298

William Booth, by Unknown photographer - NPG x87427

William Booth

by Unknown photographer
woodburytype, circa 1891
NPG x87427

William Booth, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x136246

William Booth

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x136246

William Booth, possibly by E.H. Mills, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x136276

William Booth

possibly by E.H. Mills, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, 1900s
NPG x136276

William Booth, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x197596

William Booth

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x197596

William Booth, by Thompson of West Hartlepool - NPG x197599

William Booth

by Thompson of West Hartlepool
postcard print, 1900s
NPG x197599

William Booth, by Olive Edis, and  Katharine Legat (née Edis) - NPG x1166

William Booth

by Olive Edis, and Katharine Legat (née Edis)
platinum print, 1902
NPG x1166

William Booth, by Unknown photographer - NPG x197594

William Booth

by Unknown photographer
halftone postcard print, 1904-1910
NPG x197594

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