Portrait of Captain William Kent, Royal Navy [picture]
- Bib ID:
- 4939502
- Format:
- Picture
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Printer:
- (2010 digital reproduction)
- Description:
-
- 1791?
- 1 drawing : pastel, col. ; oval visible image 24.9 x 19.1 cm., in oval mount 46 x 36.5 cm.
- Biography/History:
-
Captain William Kent, 1760-1812, was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Kent joined the Royal Navy in 1770 and became lieutenant in 1781. In 1795 Kent was given command of the Supply to accompany his uncle John Hunter to his post as Governor of New South Wales. In Sydney Kent was recommended by Hunter for promotion to commander, sailed to the Cape for supplies and livestock, and received land grants of 690 acres. In 1802 Kent was made a magistrate, and in 1803 Governor King appointed Kent to a council to provide advice on court-martial procedures. In 1805 Kent was sent to England by King carrying dispatches, and in 1806 he was appointed post captain. Although it was proposed that Kent continue the survey begun by Matthew Flinders, countered with a proposal that he be appointed assistant to Governor William Bligh, he did not return to Australia. Kent was given command of the Agincourt, later transferring to the Union, in which he died at sea off Toulon in 1812.
- Notes:
-
- Title devised by cataloguer from inscription.
- Inscriptions: "Post Captain William Kent R.N. My Great Grandfather Capt William Kent R.N. nephew to Governor Hunter, went out in Governor Hunter's escort in command of the H.M.S. Buffalo to survey the then only partially known coasts of Australia taking his wife my Great Grandmother with him to do the honors of Govt House, Governor Hunter being a bachelor. My Grandmother was their only child there, one year of age & was two when they reached Sydney, as it took a year to circumnavigate the Globe! 2 sons & a daughter were born to them later at Government House. One died & the other William entered the Navy & was with Lord Exmouth at the bombardment of Algiers for which he obtained the medal. He died in 1872. The Hunter River was named after Governor Hunter & there is a street in Sydney named Kent Street after my Great Grandfather. He discovered St Vincent's Sound & a group of islands in Bass Straits named after him 'Kent Group'. When Midshipman, he had the honor of being with the great Capt Cooke R.N. when he planted the British standard & took possession of Australia in the name of George III. My Great Grandfather brought the Cape of Good Hope the first Merino sheep to Australia buying some from Col. Gordon at the Cape & he gave some to a Mr McArthur. His wife died whilst he was command of H.M. Union, but he grieved so terribly after his wife's death that he pined away & died in 1808 & was buried at sea in the Gulf of Rosa off the coast of Spain. I.H. Goodwyn Lt. Col."--Letter attached to verso.
- Date derived from letter from Eliza Kent to William Kent: 'my Aunt on my shewing her your Pictures smiled approbation - and condescended to say she throught it a very great likeness' - Eliza Kent to William Kent, 23 Jan. 1791 in Kent family papers, v. 3, ML A3967, State Library of New South Wales.
- Apparently identical portrait held by State Library of New South Wales, ML 461.
- Source of Acquisition:
- Lent for copying by Professor John White, 2010.
- Reproduction:
- Electronic reproduction. Canberra : National Library of Australia, 2010. 1 digital reproduction of a drawing : col. Mode of access: World Wide Web.
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Magistrates
- Copyright:
-
Copyright Undetermined
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Since 70 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Artistic
- Published status:
- Unpublished
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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