Oswald Birley
| Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 1, 1880 New Zealand |
| Died | May 6, 1952 (aged 72) London, England |
| Spouse(s) | Rhoda Vava Mary Lecky Pike |
| Relatives |
Maxime Birley Mark Birley |
| Education | Harrow School |
| Alma mater | Trinity College |
| Known for | Royal portraitist |
Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley MC RA (31 March 1880 – 6 May 1952) was an English portrait painter and royal portraitist in the early part of the 20th century.
Birley was born on March 31, 1880 in New Zealand to Hugh Francis Birley (1855-1916) while his parents were on a world tour. He was born into an old Lancashire family. Upon returning to England, he was educated at Harrow School, London and Trinity College, Cambridge.
He was the great-grandson of Hugh Hornby Birley (1778-1845), who led the troops at the Peterloo Massacre.
He served in France in World War I, first with the Royal Fusiliers, later transferring to the Intelligence Corps, obtaining the rank of captain and being awarded the Military Cross in 1919. During World War II he served with the rank of major in the Home Guard.
A favourite of the Royal Family, he was well known for his portraits of King George V, Queen Mary, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and the present monarch Queen Elizabeth II.
...
Wikipedia