208 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



A KNIGHT OF BRITISH AGRICULTURE 



81. In Britain during the last century, there were many men 

 whose showyard and farming successes elicited the commenda- 

 tion and reward of loyalty. From only one man, however, came 

 such breadth and definiteness of achievement as to result in 

 knighthood. This notable contributor to rural welfare was the 

 late Sir Walter Gilbey of Elsenham Hall. On the recommen- 

 dation of Edward the VII, then Prince of Wales, Queen Vic- 

 toria put her pen to the necessary papers to make him a Bar- 

 onet, in recognition of his distinguished achievements in horse 

 breeding, the literature of livestock and general agriculture. 

 The copy of his portrait by Sir W. Pugh Orchardson that 

 hangs on the Club walls was prepared by Artist Nyholm. The 

 original portrait was paid for by the subscriptions of over 

 twelve hundred different people; Americans, Canadians, Aus- 

 tralians, Scots and Irish, joining with native Britishers in this 

 testimonial. SiR Walter received the portrait publicly in 1891, 

 at the Royal Agricultural Hall in London. The ceremonies 

 were under the direction of Duke of Portland, Master of Horse 

 to the Crown, and the presentation was at the hand of the Prince 

 of Wales. 



Sir Walter Gilbey's origins were humble; his father was 

 a stagecoach -driver on the run between Essex and Whitechapel, 

 and every childhood influence directed him toward the equine 

 world. His first business undertakings were in the sale and 

 buying of horses, a business that soon developed into a great 

 agricultural and mercantile trade. From early poverty he 

 attained enormous wealth and his money was freely spent to 

 procure rural advancement. From the beginning his interest 

 lay in the production of Shires, Hackneys, Hunters and Ponies. 

 It is related that his first horse was purchased from his small 

 winnings at cribbage while on a non-military mission in the 

 Crimea. In order to secure the time to play, he traded his rum 



