Alfred, Lord Tennyson

A carte-de-visite-size albumen print portrait of Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), poet laureate from 1850, noted for the majestic, musical language of his verse.

In 1862 Tennyson had his first interview (there were three more at later dates) with Queen Victoria, the prospect of which terrified the obsessively shy poet. In the end, the visit was a success. Tennyson endeared himself to the Queen by commenting that the recently departed Albert would have made a good king, and when she asked if there was anything she could do for him, he merely asked her to shake hands with his two young sons to ‘keep them loyal in the troublesome times to come.’

The Queen later wrote in her journal that the poet was ‘very peculiar looking, tall, dark, with a fine head, long black flowing hair and a beard – oddly dressed but there is no affectation about him.’

Photographed by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company.