Richard Brydges Beechey, Amateur

(b. 1808, d. 1895)

Amateur

From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913

Was son of Sir William Beechey, R.A., and was born in Hill Street, London, on 17th May, 1808. He entered the Navy in 1822, and eventually, after a varied and adventurous career, retired as Captain in 1864 and became Vice-Admiral in 1879. He was an accomplished painter of marine subjects, and exhibited nineteen works at the Royal Academy from 1832 to 1877, thirteen at the British Institution from 1833 to 1859, and seven at the Society of British Artists in 1834 and 1835. During his career in the Navy, when employed on survey work at the mouth of the Shannon and the west coast of Ireland, he sent works to the Royal Hibernian Academy. Having married Frideswaide, daughter of Robert Smyth of Portlick Castle, Westmeath, he, after his retirement from the Navy in 1864, settled in Ireland, living for many years at Monkstown, and afterwards in Pembroke Road, Dublin. About 1877 he settled at Plymouth, where many of his pictures are to be found. He was for a number of years a constant exhibitor of marine views and shipping at the Royal Hibernian Academy, and was made an honorary member in 1868. He died at 9 Portland Terrace, Southsea, on 8th March, 1895. A picture by him, "The Royal Mail Steamer Ulster leaving Kingstown in a Gale," was lithographed and published by Cranfield.

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