“Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill” by George Richmond, RA (1809-1896)

Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill (1772-1842)

George Richmond, RA (1809-1896)

1834

Watercolour and pencil

8 in. x 6 1/4 in. (203 mm x 159 mm)

National Portrait Gallery, London

This very genial-looking Rowland Hill is not to be confused with Sir Rowland Hill the postal reformer, who had a reputation for being stiff and stern. Rather, Viscount Hill was the military man who in 1828 succeeded the Duke of Wellington in the role of Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, a position he held until a few months before his death in 1842.

Formatting and text by Jacqueline Banerjee. [Commentary continues below. Click on the image to enlarge it.]

Gordon Teffeteller calls Viscount Hill "one of the great commanders of the age," and as well as praising his judgement, initiative and loyalty tells us: "He was a commander with genuine humanitarian concerns for his men." This good nature is clearly reflected in Richmond's portrait.

Source

Teffeteller, Gordon L. "Hill, Rowland, first Viscount Hill (1772–1842), army officer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Web. 29 February 2016.

Created 29 February 2016