Admiral Phillip Parker King

Date1860 - 1870

Object number00009317

NamePhotograph

MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 235 x 185 mm, 0.1 kg

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionCabinet photograph of Admiral Phillip Parker King, supposedly taken at his home at 'Grantham' in North Sydney shortly before his death in 1856. It is likely this image is a copy of one taken by either Thomas Glaister or Edward Dalton in 1854.HistoryFamily tradition dated the photograph to 1854 and indeed in 1854 a photograph was taken, but because any photograph from this early period would be subject to fading and deterioration by about 1860 - 70, the family, faced with this situation, had the image re-done. This photograph is therefore of the later period taken from an original salt print or very early albumen print. It is possible that it came from the original glass negative. When this updating occurred faults in the original photograph were slightly corrected by hand touching. SignificanceAdmiral Phillip Parker King, son of Govenor Philip Gidley King, became the first Australian-born person to attain eminence in the world outside the Australian colonies. He was recognised as one of Britain's leading hydrographers and made significant contributions to exploration by investigating the inner geography of many gulfs and by giving the first report of Port Darwin.