W.E. Gladstone and his grandson

A carte-de-visite portrait of William Ewart Gladstone with his eldest grandson.

According to a caption in the lower margin, the photograph was taken at Hawarden Castle on 14 September 1881. Given the apparent age of the boy, this can only be William Gladstone Wickham, born in Marylebone in the first quarter of 1877. His parents were Agnes née Gladstone and her husband, the Very Reverend Edward C. Wickham.

He died in London in 1939.

‘William Gladstone Wickham, eldest grandson of William Ewart Gladstone, has died at Wetherby Gardens, London, in his 63rd year, it is announced today. Mr Wickham was the eldest son of the late E.C. Wickham, Dean of Lincoln’ (Dundee Evening Telegraph, 19 September 1939).

Photographed by Thomas Fall of Baker Street, London.

The photograph was entered at Stationers’ Hall on 14 June 1882. The accompanying form described the image as ‘Photograph of Right Honourable W.E. Gladstone sitting with grandson on his knee.’