Sir Polydore de Keyser
(1832-1897), Lord Mayor of LondonSitter in 3 portraits
Polydore de Keyser's father established the Royal Hotel in London, which by 1882 had become the largest hotel in the city. De Keyser joined his father in running the business, and he also became active in local affairs. He was elected alderman for the ward of Farringdon Without in 1882, and was elected sheriff later the same year. De Keyser was a founder of the Guildhall School of Music and was an early president of its management committee. In the autumn of 1887 he became Lord Mayor of London, the first Catholic to hold this office since the Reformation.
by Sir Leslie Ward
watercolour, published in Vanity Fair 26 November 1887
NPG 2570
Sir Polydore de Keyser ('Men of the Day. No. 389.')
by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 26 November 1887
NPG D44360
by Sir Leslie Ward, and Carlo Pellegrini, and 'Hay', and Théobald Chartran ('T'), and Liborio Prosperi ('Lib')
chromolithographs pasted onto wooden panel, assembled from prints published 1881-1889
NPG D39292
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