Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/524

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McCalmont
504
McCalmont

copper point. He sometimes lectured on art subjects.

He died on 22 Jan. 1902 at 5 The Studios, Holland Park Road, Kensington. He had lived in the neighbourhood since 1858 when he leased from Thomas Webster, R.A. [q. v.], his house in The Mall, Kensington. He was twice married: (1) to Miss Tetlow (d. c. 1875) of Altrincham, a cultured lady of independent means; and (2) to Miss Salway of Ludlow, by whom he had two sons, who both served in the South African war. His portrait was painted by J. H. Sylvester in 1888.

The Tate Gallery has his 'Silvery Moments, Burnham Beeches' (1885), and 'The Monarch of the Glen'; to the Victoria and Albert Museum belong 'In Sherwood Forest—Winter Evening after Rain' (1881), 'S. Maria delle Grazie, Milan' (1854), 'Rome from the Porta San Pancrazio' (1855–6), 'The Burning of Rome by Nero, and the Massacre of the Christians' (1878–9), a 'Head of Christ' after Daniele Crespi, two pencil and two water-colour studies of trees, and numerous drawings of ornament; and at the City of Nottingham Art Gallery are 'The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest' (1882), which measures about 9 ft. by 12 ft., and 'The Opening Scene in Bailey's "Festus."'

[Private information; Illustr. London News, 23 June 1866; Art Journ. 1866, p. 218, and 1877, pp. 321–324 (illustr. art. by J. Dafforne); Fine Arts Quarterly Review, 1866, i. 373; Clement and Hutton, Artists of the Nineteenth Century; Sir H. Cole, Fifty Years of Public Work, 1884, i. 329; P. G. Hamerton, in English Painters of the Present Day (1871), pp. 60, 61; G. H. Shepherd, Minor Masters of the old British School, 39; Müller and Singer, Allg. Künstler-Lexicon; Graves, Dict. of Artists, Roy. Acad. Exhibitors, and British Institution; Cat. Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum (oils and water-colours), Nottingham Art Gall., and Dudley Gall. (1866); The Times, 31 Jan. 1902.]

B. S. L.

McCALMONT, HARRY LESLIE BLUNDELL (1861–1902), sportsman, born on 30 May 1861, was only son (in a family of three children) of Hugh Barklie Blundell McCalmont (1836–1888), barrister, of Lincoln's Inn, living at Hampton Court, by his wife Edith Florence, daughter of Martin Blackmore of Bonchurch, Isle of Wight. From Eton, Harry passed in 1881 into the 6th foot, and in 1885 was gazetted to the Scots guards, from which he retired in 1889. Meanwhile he became heir of an immense fortune left him by his great-uncle, Hugh McCalmont, of Abbeylands, co. Antrim, who died unmarried on 20 October 1887, leaving an estate valued at 3,121,931l. The residuary estate, amounting to about 3,000,000l., was left in trust to pay 2000l. a year to his grand-nephew for seven years after the testator's death, and then the capital and interest were to be transferred to the heir. In 1894 McCalmont thus came into possession of some 4,000,000l. A keen sportsman, he engaged largely in racing, yachting, and shooting. He purchased from John James Robert Manners, seventh duke of Rutland [q. v. Suppl. II], the Cheveley estate at Newmarket, where game was very plentiful, and he delighted in hospitality and benevolence. On the turf McCalmont placed himself under the guidance of Captain Machell [q. v. Suppl. II]. One of the first horses he owned was Timothy, who in 1888 carried his colours (light blue and scarlet, quartered; white cap) to victory in the contests for the Gold Cup and Alexandra Plate at Ascot. From Machell he purchased for 500l. the Wenlock mare Deadlock, who, bred to Isonomy, produced in 1890 the colt Isinglass. During the four seasons this horse was in training he won the huge sum of 57,455l.—as a two-year-old 4577l., at three years old 18,860l., at four 31,498l., and at five 2520l. This is the largest amount won by any one horse on the English turf. In 1893 Isinglass was successful in the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger; the following year he won the Princess of Wales's Stakes of 10,911l., the Eclipse Stakes of 9285l., and the Jockey Club Stakes of 11,302l., and in 1895 he carried off the Ascot Cup. At the stud Isinglass became the sire of two 'classic' winners—Cherry Lass, who won the One Thousand Guineas and Oaks in 1905, and Glass Doll, who won the Oaks in 1907. One of his sons. Rising Glass, ran second in the Derby and St. Leger, and won the Jockey Club Stakes as his sire had done. Among many other good horses that carried the colours of McCalmont were Suspender (winner of the Royal Hunt Cup), Amphora (winner of the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood), and St. Maclou, who won the Lincolnshire Handicap, beating Sceptre, finished second in the Cambridgeshire, and won the Manchester November Handicap in 1902.

McCalmont, who was elected a member of the Jockey Club in 1893, was returned as conservative M.P. for the Newmarket division of Cambridgeshire in 1895 and was re-elected in 1900. At the time of