A three-quarter-length portrait slightly to the right showing Salmon in admiral’s full dress uniform, 1879–91, his cocked hat under his right arm, wearing the ribbon and star of the GCB, the Victoria Cross and the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny medals. Inconsistencies between the appearance of the uniform and the date of promotion and the decorations awarded indicate that the portrait has been overpainted and may derive from a photograph of the sitter in either his rear- or vice-admiral’s uniform.
Nowell Salmon joined the Navy as a Volunteer First Class in May 1847 and served in the 'Thesis' on the South American Station during the period 1851-53. He was promoted to First Mate in 1854 and went on to serve in the 'James Watt' in the Baltic, gaining the Baltic medal. On 5 January 1856, he was promoted lieutenant and made lieutenant commander in the 'Ant' on 7 March 1856. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58, he was part of the naval brigade of the 'Shannon' at Lucknow, under William Peel. Peel called for volunteers to climb a tree next to the fortified temple in order to spot grenade throwers; Salmon volunteered and received the Victoria Cross with leading seaman John Harrison. He was promoted commander on 23 March 1858. From 1 November 1859 until 24 May 1864 he commded the 'Icarus' in the Mediterranean, the Channel and the West Indies. Salmon was promoted captain on 12 December 1863 and the commands of the 'Defence', 'Valiant' and 'Swiftsure' followed. He was promoted rear-admiral on 2 August 1879 and was appointed commander-in-chief at the Cape on 11 April 1882, remaining in post until 6 March 1885. He was promoted vice-admiral on 1 July 1885 and was, in succession, commander-in-chief of the China station (1888-90) and at Portsmouth (1894-97). He rose to admiral on 10 September 1891 and to admiral of the fleet on 13 January 1899. Between August 1897 and January 1899 he was principal naval aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria. Salmon retired on 1 February 1905.