Portrait of Wigram Money, 1840-45 (oil on canvas)

Portrait of Wigram Money (1784-1856) Source/Shelfmark: Foster 1052 Money was the youngest son of William Money (1736-96), captain in the East India Company's maritime service, afterwards Director of the East India Company and Elder of Trinity House. The three elder sons all served the Company: William Taylor (1769-1834) followed his father into the maritime service and also became a captain of an Indiaman; James (1772-1833) served in Bengal from 1790-1830; and Robert (1775-1803) was in the China service from 1790 until he was drowned in 1803 (a triple portrait of the three sons 1788-90 by John Francis Rigaud is in the National Maritime Museum, given by the same donor). Wigram Money's career followed a fairly rapid progression after his arrival in India in 1801 at the age of 17. After placements in Dacca and Calcutta, in 1812 he was appointed Collector of Customs at Patna. In 1824 he became second member of the Board of Revenue Lower Provinces. From 1829 he was Commissioner of Revenue and Circuit for the divisions of Murshidabad, Birbhum and Nadia. He ended his career in Calcutta as a judge of the Presidency Sudder Dewanny and Nizamat Adawlut court 1836-39, when he retired. Sant must have painted this portrait at the beginning of his career, as he portrays Money as a still vigorous man in early middle age. Provenance: the sitter; his son Gilbert Pockington Money (1821-85), BCS; his son Major-General Sir Arthur Wigram Money (1866-1951), Indian Army. Presented by the latter's daughter Mrs Rosemary Harley, of Fulham, London, September 2004.