Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

John Bird Sumner (1780-1862), Archbishop of Canterbury

Archbishop of Canterbury; canon of Durham, 1820; published widely read theological works, 1815-29; bishop of Chester, 1828-48; founded many churches and schools; archbishop of Canterbury, 1848; involved in controversy over baptism, 1847-51; opposed removal of Jewish disabilities; respected for his moderate attitudes.


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.