Theresa Shepheard Mort (née Laidley, 1820-1869), colonial spouse, was one of eight children of civil servant James Laidley and his wife Eliza Jane (née Shepheard). Laidley served in the West Indies, Canada and Mauritius before taking up the position of Commissary General in Sydney, arriving with his family in 1827. In October 1841, Theresa married merchant, shipbuilder and wool broker Thomas Sutcliffe Mort (1816-1878). Five years later, Mort purchased land at Darling Point where the family home, Greenoaks, was built. Theresa and Thomas had eight children, seven of whom survived to adulthood. Their eldest son, Laidley James Mort was born at Greenoaks in 1843 and was later educated at Eton. Theresa was a devoted wife and mother and was also an amateur artist, taking lessons from Conrad Martens (who painted Greenoaks) in 1846 and 1847. Thomas Sutcliffe Mort's biographer has described Mort as having an 'immense love' for his wife and family; he is said to have been devastated at Theresa's death, aged 49, in 1869.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Mort family 2009
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