Historylinks Archive

George Dempster

George Dempster

Date Added: 24 April 2008 Year Range: 1855 - 1869 Institution Name: dnhhl Cat No: | 2003_038_019 | Picture No: 939

Carte de visite. George Soper Dempster of Skibo 1804-1868.

Dimensions: cdv

9 Comments

This is probably William Soper Dempster. George Dempster was laird of Skibo until his death in 1818. His half brother John Hamilton Dempster, who had the neighbouring estate of Pulrossie died soon after him. John's illegitimate daughter, Harriet Dempster inherited both estates. Harriet married Mr William Soper, of the East India Company's Service. Mr Soper assumed the name of Dempster, and undertook the management of his wife's estate.

Comment left on 06 August 2014 at 20:33 by Eleanor Garty Many thanks for the identification and additional information Administrator
William Soper Dempster died 1830.
His will was proved 24th December 1830.
This picture is dated 1855.
Kind regards,
Julie.
Comment left on 08 September 2014 at 08:28 by Julie Weiz. Many thanks for your comment - I should image that the date of 1855 is correct as the image is referred to as a 'carte de visite' and they were patented in 1854. I would be very interested if anyone has any other ideas as to who the man in the photograph may be - Administrator
Regarding John Hamilton Dempster.
George Dempster's half brother, John Hamilton Dempster died Oct 23rd 1800, when his Ship the "Earl Talbot" encountered a Typhoon in the South China Seas.
Kind regards,
Julie.

Comment left on 10 September 2014 at 12:39 by Julie Weiz. Many thanks for the additional information Administrator
Thank you for a wonderful site.
If this " Carte de Visite" is of George Soper Dempster as stated, then he was the son and heir of William Soper and Harriet Dempster He was born 1804 and would have been aged 51 years in 1855.
Harriet was the illegitimate daughter of Capt John Hamilton Dempster and Olivia Mariamne Devenish. John Hamilton Dempster being the half brother of George Dempster(1732-1818)

William Soper was granted by the King in 1803 to add the name Dempster. After Harriet's father died she inherited Skibo.
George Soper Dempster the son of William and Harriet, inherited Skibo.In 1827 he married Joanna Hamilton Dundas. His niece Charlotte Louisa Hawkins Dempster wrote the book " Manners of my Time" published 1920 where she mentions Skibo Castle, dated her uncle selling Skibo and adds the letters she wrote to her Uncle George Soper Dempster. When George's sister Charlotte died in Dec 1841 he adopted her children. Charlotte, the third daughter of William Soper Dempster and Harriet Dempster married James Whitshed Hawkins of Dunnichen House in 1830.
James Whitshed Hawkins died July 1841.
The Census 1851 shows George with his nieces at Skibo Castle.1861 Census in Edinbugh " Landed proprietor of Skibo Castle"

This site has the portraits presented by James Whitshed Hawkins of George Dempster (1732-1818)
Regards,
Julie Weizenegger.
Australia.

Comment left on 27 January 2016 at 03:58 by Julie Weizenegger
Dempster, George, of Skibo, 28 Feb. 1826 son of William Soper Dempster of Skibo, born 1802, died father of the Bar, 6 Feb. 1889, mar. 8 May 1827 Joanna Hamilton (died 1891). youngest daughter of Right Hon. Robert Dundas of Arniston.
(THE FACULTY OF ADVOCATES OF SCOTLAND 1532-1943 WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES 1944)
Comment left on 04 October 2020 at 07:33 by Andrew Macfarlane
This portrait is not as early as 1855. The CDV craze didn't really take off in the UK until the end of 1859. The photographer of this particular example is Camille Silvy, who opened his studio in November 1859. His daybooks have survived and are searchable on the NPG website. This portrait isn't there, which suggests it was taken during the period covered by the missing volume, July 1863 to June 1864. Stylistically, that would fit with the props and background seen here.

As for his identity, I agree that he is probably George Dempster of Skibo Castle, who died in 1889. I came across this page because I was looking for info on his niece, the Scottish novelist Charlotte Dempster, who also sat for Silvy.
Comment left on 13 January 2022 at 03:29 by Paul Frecker
Wow! I have a photo of Reverend Rolfe from 1862, taken at the same location. I recognised the furniture and bust immediately.

Rolfe was the Chaplin from Christ Church in Cannes, I believe the location of the photo is Villa Victoria, Cannes. (but I can't be sure of this)

This could well be the Uncle of Charlotte Louisa Hawkins Dempster.

Gary
Cannes, France
Comment left on 17 July 2022 at 21:47 by Gary Many thanks for the additional information. Administrator
Rev. Edward Fawcett Neville-Rolfe sat for Silvy on 1 August 1862. His portrait and this one were both taken at Silvy’s studio in Bayswater in London.

When he left Cannes, after holding the chaplaincy at Christ Church for 17 years, he became Canon of Gibraltar.
Comment left on 19 October 2022 at 16:32 by Paul Frecker Many thanks for the additional information. Administrator
I was wondering if George Dempster would have any connection to my current family as my mother is Scottish and my father is English Comment left on 19 February 2023 at 01:30 by Mr Stephen john Dempster You may be able to find out your ancestry using Scotland's People website.
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