Sir Edward Belcher

Inscriptionback to top

Apparently signed on the back (now no longer visible): Stephen Pearce

This portraitback to top

Belcher is wearing the full-dress uniform (1856 pattern) either of a naval captain with over three years service, or of a commodore (1st or 2nd class), and (from left to right) the China Medal (1842), the order of the Bath (CB), the Naval General Service Medal (1793-1840), with two bars for 'Gaieta 24 July 1815' and 'Algiers', and the Arctic Medal (1818-55). These medals, and Belcher's KCB star and badge, are now in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, blue eyes, grey hair and whiskers. Dressed in a dark stock, white shirt, dark blue naval uniform, with gold-braided collar and epaulettes, gilt buttons, silver medals and a white star with multi-coloured ribbons. Background colour dark brown.

Provenanceback to top

Commissioned or purchased by Colonel John Barrow, and bequeathed by him, 1899.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA, 1859 (43); Royal Naval Exhibition, Chelsea, 1891 (46).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Sir Edward Belcher

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