William Umpleby Kirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Umpleby Kirk
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| Born | 25 March 1843 Kingston upon Hull, England
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| Died | 20 January 1928 |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Photography |
| Spouse(s) | Ada Elizabeth Parkin d.16 May 1932 |
William Umpleby Kirk (1843–1928) was a very important photographer. He lived during the late Victorian period in England. Kirk was known for taking amazing pictures of boats and famous people. He helped show the world what photography could do.
Contents
A Photographer's Journey
William Kirk was born in Hull, England. He grew up in a nearby town called Market Weighton. In the early 1870s, he opened his first photography studio there. Some of his early photos still exist today. People like to collect them.
Moving to Cowes: The Yachting Center
In 1881, Kirk moved his family and business. They went to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. At that time, Cowes was the world's main center for yachting. Rich and important people came to Cowes. They raced their yachts, bought new ones, and showed them off. It was a very exciting place to be.
Kirk became famous for his photos in Cowes. He took pictures of the yachts on the water and their owners on land. He was especially good at marine photography. This means taking pictures of boats and the sea. He also took many portraits of people.
Photographing Famous Faces
Kirk photographed many important people. He took a picture of James Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde. The Marquis was a leader of the Royal Yacht Squadron. A copy of this photo is kept in the British National Archives.
Kirk also took a large group photo. It included many well-known people. This photo is now at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Capturing Life's Moments
Besides yachts and famous people, Kirk photographed other events. He took pictures of groups at house parties. He also photographed tutor groups and sports teams. These were often Naval Cadets at Osborne Naval College. His photos of the fancy insides of large yachts are also very special. They show us what life was like back then.
The Royal Warrant
Kirk's fame grew even more. He took a picture of Queen Victoria's yacht, HMY Alberta. The yacht was moving at 10 knots (about 11.5 miles per hour). It was entering Cowes Harbour. This photo was one of the first in Britain to show a moving boat.
The Queen was very happy with the picture. Because of this, Kirk earned a Royal Warrant. This means he was officially recognized as a photographer for the Royal Family. An article in the Isle of Wight Herald in September 1881 talked about this special photo. It said the Queen was "very much pleased" with it.
Kirk's Legacy
William Kirk's photographs are still valued today. Pictures he took of yachts like Bona and Ailsa have been sold at auctions. Collectors around the world look for his work.
A large collection of Kirk's photos is kept by the Isle of Wight County Council. There is also a big collection of his original glass plates. These are held at the Gallery, Classic Boat Museum in East Cowes. These plates are like the negatives photographers used long ago. They help us see his amazing work today.
