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Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

(1832-1914), Field Marshal

Sitter in 81 portraits
Roberts was born in Cawnpore, India and served much of his military career there. He rose to Major-General during the Afghan war, 1878-80, and Commander-in-Chief in India, 1885-93. He enjoyed enormous popularity at home, which was much enhanced by his decisive command in the Second Boer War, 1900. He returned to England on being appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British army, 1900-04, but found himself in disagreement with government defence policy. He spent his remaining years warning against the German threat and arguing the case for national service. Roberts died of pneumonia in France while visiting Indian troops fighting the First World War. He was given a state funeral after lying in state at Westminster Hall (only one of two non royal family members to do so in the 20th century, the other being Sir Winston Churchill) and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral.

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Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, by Richard Josey, published by  Henry Graves & Co, after  Walter William Ouless - NPG D39782

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by Richard Josey, published by Henry Graves & Co, after Walter William Ouless
mezzotint, published 14 July 1883
NPG D39782

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, published by Thomas McLean, after  John Henry Sylvester - NPG D39785

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

published by Thomas McLean, after John Henry Sylvester
photogravure, published 1 May 1894 (1893)
NPG D39785

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, published by William Heinemann, after  William Nicholson - NPG D32967

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

published by William Heinemann, after William Nicholson
lithographic reproduction of a hand-coloured woodcut, published 1899 (1897)
NPG D32967

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, by Sir Emery Walker, after  John Singer Sargent - NPG D39783

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by Sir Emery Walker, after John Singer Sargent
photogravure, early 20th century (1906)
NPG D39783

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, after  Sir Leslie Ward - NPG D42756

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, after Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published 21 June 1900
NPG D42756

'A General Group', by Sir Leslie Ward - NPG D45041

'A General Group'

by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 29 November 1900
NPG D45041

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, by Sir Leslie Ward, printed by  Gilbert Whitehead & Co Ltd - NPG D42728

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by Sir Leslie Ward, printed by Gilbert Whitehead & Co Ltd
chromolithograph, published 1 February 1910
NPG D42728

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, by The Autotype Company, after  Frank Dicksee - NPG D20797

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by The Autotype Company, after Frank Dicksee
collotype, (1914)
NPG D20797

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, by The Autotype Company, after  Frank Dicksee - NPG D9924

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by The Autotype Company, after Frank Dicksee
collotype, (1914)
NPG D9924

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, published by The Medici Society Ltd, after  George Frederic Watts - NPG D39788

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

published by The Medici Society Ltd, after George Frederic Watts
chromolithograph, published 1915 (1898)
NPG D39788

Web image not currently available

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype, 1882 or before
NPG x12485

Web image not currently available

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by Elliott & Fry
half-plate negative, 1900s
NPG x82300

Web image not currently available

'Men who are making History'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, circa 1914
NPG x193603

Web image not currently available

'Soldiers of the King'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, circa 1914
NPG x193604

Web image not currently available

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

by Lock & Whitfield
albumen print
NPG Ax38788

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