13 Facts About William Bambridge

William Bambridge's father was a professional flautist whose first wife had died within two years of their marriage.

William Bambridge had three children with Harriet who died in June 1821, shortly after the birth of her third son.

William Bambridge married Sophia Thorington at Clewer on 2 November 1841.

William Bambridge had trained as a teacher and was recruited by Selwyn who had recently been appointed as the first bishop for New Zealand.

William Bambridge spent his days in the schoolroom teaching reading, writing, arithmetic, drawing, singing and religious knowledge.

William Bambridge was an accomplished artist and recorded the Mission buildings, occupants, scenery and activities by drawing and water colour.

In July 1842, Sophia gave birth to her first child, called William Bambridge Samuel with George Frederic being born in April 1844.

William Bambridge and Sophia's third child, Sophia Esther, was born in August 1846 at Purewa.

William Bambridge's subjects include not only members of the royal family and their pets but still life, scenes from the royal hunts etc.

William Bambridge used the wet collodion process invented by Frederick Scott Archer on glass plate negatives.

William Bambridge died in Wandsworth, London, in May 1879 and is buried in Clewer churchyard, along with his brother George, and his father.

William Bambridge and Sophia had six children of whom the latter three sons were all born at Windsor between 1849 and 1861.

The first-born son, William Bambridge Samuel became Professor of Music and Organist at Marlborough College and named his home in the town of Marlborough, "The Waimate".