Panorama of Bombay

A coloured panorama mounted on linen, 5487 x 355 mm. in size. The picture is described on the back as an 'original unpublished panorama of Bombay taken from the top of Sir Jenisedjie Jeejeebhoy's house - drawn and coloured on the spot by T. Wingate'. There are inscriptions indicating points of interest.

Thomas Wingate was born on 9 March 1807 in Verdun, France, where his father, the naval lieutenant George Thomas Wingate, was held as a prisoner of war from 1806 until 1813 or 1814. He was christened with his four siblings in Stirling, Scotland, in 1815, following their father's release.

Wingate purchased an ensigncy in the British Army on 13 May 1826 and served in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] with the 7th Regiment of Foot (Ross-shire Buffs) between 1828 and 1832. He became a lieutenant in 1830. In early 1833, Wingate had returned to Stirling and transferred to the 2nd Regiment of Foot (Queens Royal) later that year.

Wingate served in India from 1835. He was a gifted artist as illustrated by a panorama of Bombay executed about 1837 and a series of lithographs reflecting his participation in the Ghuznee campaign of 1839. He left India in 1842 upon the grounds of ill-health and returned to Scotland. In 1846, Wingate was promoted captain and retired from the army. In 1852, he travelled to Australia, where he served with the New South Wales Volunteer Rifles. He married Eleanor Terry in 1857 and they lived at Potts Point, Sydney.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

The panorama with Wingate's papers was presented to the Mitchell Library, Sydney, in 1953 by Mrs L. Cadell of Quirindi, New South Wales. It was transferred to the R.C.S. in 1953 at the suggestion of Miss Mander-Jones and with Mrs Cadell's approval.

Includes index.

MSS 22

Donald H. Simpson, ed., 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (London, 1975), p. 67.

M.R. Downey, 'Major Thomas Wingate: an early Australian Reservist', 'Sabretache' XLIII, June 2002.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

This collection level description was created by RAS and MJC.

Wingate, Thomas, 1807-1869, soldier and artist