Augustine Birrell; Clement King Shorter

by Olive Edis
sepia-toned matte print, 1916
8in. x 5in. (202 mm x 150 mm)
Given by (Mary) Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy), 1948
Photographs Collection
NPG x12402

Sittersback to top

Augustine Birrell (1850-1933), Politician; MP for West Fife and Bristol North, barrister, academic and author. Sitter in 53 portraits.
Clement King Shorter (1857-1926), Journalist and author. Sitter in 2 portraits.

Artistback to top

(Mary) Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy) (1876-1955), Photographer. Artist associated with 425 portraits, Sitter in 17 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

Rolley, Katrina; Aish, Caroline, Fashion in Photographs 1900-1920, 1992, p. 101

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, Norfolk (photographer's studio, Sheringham, Norfolk)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1916back to top

Current affairs

As war drags on with heavy losses conscription is introduced with the Military Service Act. Conscientious objectors who refused to fight were compelled to do non-military war work, and some were jailed.
British Summer Time is introduced, putting the clocks forward an hour during the summer in order to capitalise on daylight hours.

Art and science

C. Hubert H. Parry sets William Blake's poem, Jerusalem, to music popularising the poem and tune as a patriotic English anthem. On hearing Edward Elgar's orchestrated version in 1922, King George V suggested that it replace God Save the King as the National Anthem.

International

The Irish Citizen Army starts a Nationalist rebellion in Dublin: The Easter Rising.
Massive losses are suffered on the Western Front at the battles of the Somme and Verdun.
The Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire (1916-18) led by Prince Faisal is assisted by T.E. Lawrence, who became known as Lawrence of Arabia.

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