Felix Stanley Henry Webber

The Silvy daybooks identify the sitter as 'F.H.S. Webber (Royal Navy).' This is Felix Stanley Henry Webber (1837-1901).

Born at Alderbury in Wiltshire in 1837, he was the son of William Felix Webber and his wife Grace Emma née Key-Seymer. He served in the Crimean War aboard HMS Belleraphon and from 1856 to 1860 he was on active duty in Chinese waters aboard HMS Sybille. In 1861 he married Edith Emily Larking, daughter of John Wingfield Larking. The marriage produced at least four children.

In 1871 the family were living at Lee in Kent. In 1881 they were living at Shroton (also known as Iwerne Courtney) in Dorset. In 1891 Felix was visiting the Earl of Northesk at Longwood House, Owslebury, Hampshire.

There is a monumental inscription to his memory in St. Mary's, Shroton, Dorset: 'To the beloved memory of / Felix Stanley Henry Webber / eldest son of WF Webber of Hamble Cliff near Southampton / and Grace daughter of Henry Ker Seymer of Hanford. / He served in the Royal Navy during the Chinese / and Crimean Wars and as Lieut. of HMS Belleraphon / he took part in the bombardment of Sevastopol. / He lived at Shroton House / and was for many years JP for Dorset / Died March 7th 1901 aged 64. / This tablet is placed here by his relations / in affectionate remembrance'.

At this birth, his name was registered as Felix Stanley Henry Webber, and at his death, too, his names were registered in this order. However, in the Silvy daybooks and on the 1861 census, the order of his two middle names is reversed. On all the other censuses on which he appears, the names are in the order in which they were registered at his birth, and, since this is also the order that appears on his memorial tablet at Shroton, that is the order given here.

Photographed by Camille Silvy of London in 1860.