Officer in Dress Uniform 1810

The earliest hussar uniform worn by officers of the 10th Hussars was a dark blue jacket and pelisse with silver lace and braid, and yellow facings. Surprisingly the collar in this portrait is sparsely ornamented compared with the cuff. The pelisse is draped on the left shoulder, kept in place with silver cords that have tassels and flounders. The braid on the back of the pelisse is probably mirrored on the back of the jacket, as suggested by the elaborate braiding around the jacket pocket just above his waist. The lining of the pelisse is in red silk. A large red and gold barrel sash round his waist has red cords and gold tassels. The pouch-belt is silver laced and edged in red like the sword-belt. The fact that the buckles are showing on the front of the belt indicates that he is wearing it incorrectly, and thus had the portrait painted before joining the regiment. His sabretache is red with silver lace and braid except for the crown which is hidden behind his sword. The busby is of grey fur, matching the fur on his pelisse. It has a red bag and a white over red egret plume. The cap lines are gold and crimson with elaborate flounders and tassels. The sword knot is also gold and crimson with a matching tassel. The dress uniform is completed with tight white buckskin breeches and black Hessian boots that have a black tassel on the front, and steel spurs.
The portrait is by Sir William Beechey, the sitter is Sir Bellingham Reginald Graham 7th Baronet of Norton Conyers, Yorkshire. He served in the 10th Hussars for only a very short time, appearing in the regimental officer list for only 1810. He was born on 3 Nov 1789 so he would have been about 21 in this portrait. He was the son of Sir Bellingham Graham 6th Bt and Priscilla Whitworth. His father died in April 1796 so he inherited the title at the age of six. He married twice; first to Harriet Clark on 10 Nov 1810, and then Harriet Cottam in July 1831. With the first Harriet he had four children and with the second Harriet he had 5 children. He died on 15 June 1866

Regimental Details | Uniforms