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A three-quarter length portrait of the ship owner Walter Runciman. He looks directly out of the picture to meet the viewer’s gaze. A man of strong character and striking appearance he was respected throughout the shipping industry for his individualism, geniality, and kindliness. The background is appropriately plain for this life-long teetotaller. His sailing interests are indicated through the model of a sailing ship sitting on the tallboy. Runciman was born at Dunbar, East Lothian. In 1859 he began his career as an apprentice in a coal brig. After over 25 years at sea he became a shipowner at South Shields, Durham, and founded the Moor Line Ltd of cargo steamships. He was president of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom (1910–1911) and in 1919 became senior partner in Walter Runciman & Co.
A keen yachtsman, he bought ‘Sunbeam’ in 1922. Famous for the voyages of its former owner, Thomas, Lord Brassey, it was succeeded by ‘Sunbeam II’ in 1929. He was a member of several yacht clubs, commodore of the Royal Northumbrian Yacht Club and honorary commodore of the Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve. He wrote several books about sailing ships and an autobiography, ‘Before the Mast – and After’ (1924), which offers invaluable insights into nineteenth-century life at sea. A Methodist and a lay preacher, he was created baronet in 1906, and Baron Runciman of Shoreston in 1933.
The artist trained at the Royal Scottish Academy School. He exhibited widely in Britain, including at the Royal Academy in London.
Title
Sir Walter Runciman (1847–1937)
Date
1915
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 144.2 x W 98.4 cm
Accession number
BHC2345
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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Sir Thomas Wilton, Mayor of Dartmouth (1900–1901 & 1914–1919) Dartmouth Guildhall -
Sir Thomas Octavius Callender (1855–1938) Hall Place and Gardens -
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl Oxford and Asquith Parliamentary Art Collection -
Exhibition Road, Bomb Damage Kensington Central Library -
Viscount Runciman (1870–1949), MP and President of the Board of Trade Penlee House Gallery & Museum -
Samuel Plimsoll (1824–1898) National Maritime Museum -
Sir Walter Runciman (1847–1937) National Maritime Museum - 4 more