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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Police (Lieut Colonel Edmund Yeamans Walcott Henderson)

1875
Carlo Pellegrini, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son (lithographer) and Vanity Fair Magazine (publisher)

from the series ‘Vanity Fair’
chromolithograph on paper (sheet: 38.0 cm x 26.3 cm)

Sir Edmund Yeamans Walcott Henderson KCB (1821–1896) was commissioned in the Royal Engineers and served in Canada before Earl Grey appointed him Western Australia’s first Comptroller General of Convicts. Henderson arrived in Fremantle in 1850 aboard the Scindian, which also carried that colony’s first shipment of 75 convicts. He remarked that a 'wool-shed makes excellent barracks' as he set up their temporary accommodation while the permanent limestone gaol was built. Henderson was liberal-minded and gave evidence to a select committee of the House of Lords investigating the abolition of transportation. He took charge of Western Australia’s public works before permanently returning to England in 1869. Henderson was then appointed Chief Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, establishing the criminal investigation department which became Scotland Yard. His obituary in the West Australian in 1897 paid tribute to a man ‘of the kindliest disposition and the most genial temperament’ who ‘found chaos and left organisation’. Sketching in watercolours was his life-long hobby.

Gift of Mr Ronald Walker 2001

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Carlo Pellegrini (age 37 in 1875)

Vincent Brooks, Day & Son

Vanity Fair Magazine

Lieut. Col. Edmund Henderson C.B. (age 54 in 1875)

Subject professions

Government and leadership

Military

Donated by

Ronald Walker (23 portraits)

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ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency