Captain Sir Edward Berry, 1768-1831

A three-quarter length portrait to the left, showing Berry in his captain’s undress uniform (over three years) of the 1812–25 pattern. He wears the neck decoration of the KCB and his three medals for commanding ships at the Nile, Trafalgar and San Domingo. The portrait was begun by Copley in 1815 and finished by Thomas Phillips in December 1839, having been presented to Greenwich Hospital by Berry’s widow in 1835.

Berry, like Nelson, came from Norfolk. His long association with Nelson began when he served as his first lieutenant in the 'Agamemnon'. He was with him as a volunteer additional commander in the Captain at Cape St Vincent and was his flag-captain in the Vanguard throughout the campaign that ended with the Battle of the Nile. He was given the honour of carrying home Nelson's report of the victory but was captured by the 'Généreux', one of the French ships that escaped from Aboukir Bay. In 1805 Berry was himself captain of the 'Agamemnon' at Trafalgar. He was appointed KCB on 2 January 1815.

Object Details

ID: BHC2554
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Copley, John Singleton
Date made: Late 18th century - Early 19th century; circa 1815
People: Berry, Edward; Berry, Ladyfl
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection
Measurements: Frame: 1732 mm x 1418 mm x 110 mm; Painting: 1420 mm x 1120 mm