Despite being referred to as a Blackwall frigate, the Walmer Castle was actually built at Sunderland, in the far northeast of England, rather than anywhere near Blackwall on London's River Thames. Launched from Pile's Yard in 1855, she was ordered by Green's of London for their extensive fleet of Indian trading ships and she proved a highly successful vessel.
Registered at 1,064 tons (gross & net) and measuring 193 feet in length with a 35 foot beam, she sported a full ship-rig and, when completed, looked every inch the thoroughbred she soon became. Under her first master Captain C. L. Daniel, she began her career with two round trips from London to Melbourne, each taking approximately a year, after which, as she lay idle in the London docks awaiting her third voyage, she found herself chartered by the British government to take troops to India where the 'Great Mutiny' was in its final phase. On returning to England, Walmer Castle then began ten years of regular sailings to Calcutta, Madras and China, usually completing one round trip per annum. The Walmer Castle was destroyed by fire whilst loading cargo at Samarang (Java) on Christmas Day 1876

Montague Dawson - Artist's Biography

Montague Dawson was born in Chiswick, London. Early in his life he inherited a life-long love for the sea from his father, and an artistic flair from his grandfather, a successful landscape painter. When the family moved to Southampton, Dawson was able to indulge in his passion. Without any formal training, he joined a commercial art studio in London in 1910. When the war broke out in 1914, he joined the Navy, and supplied illustrations for publication in the ‘Sphere’. Back on shore he took up painting full time, concentrating on portraits of sailing vessels on the high seas. By that time, the family had moved to Milford on Sea in Hampshire. Dawson made his debut at the RA in 1917.

Although frequently painting contemporary marine and naval compositions, his major fascination was with historical subjects, clipper ships and galleons. His subjects were closely studied, with the nearby sea and visits to shipyards awarding him with a knowledge and confidence that enabled him to capture every detail of the magic atmosphere of the elements.

During the Second World War, Dawson worked as a war artist, portraying Royal Naval and US Naval actions. His popularity was such that a wing devoted to his work at the New Mariners Museum in Newport, Rhode Island opened in 1975. Both President Eisenhower and President Johnson owned paintings by Dawson.