William Penny
(1808-1892), Seaman and explorerEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 2 portraits
Penny was sent to sea at a young age by his father who was a whale skipper. He was an early advocate of marine steam power; commanding the first steam whaler, into the Arctic regions. He played a major part in the search for Sir John Franklin and the crew of Erebus and Terror, who were lost in the Arctic during an attempt to discover the Northwest Passage. Penny sailed in May 1850 and found on Beechey Island traces of Franklin's winter quarters of 1845-46 but none of the 129 members of the expedition.
by Stephen Pearce
oil on canvas, 1853
NPG 1209
by James Scott, published by Henry Graves & Co, after Stephen Pearce
mixed-method engraving, published 30 September 1853
NPG D40145
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