Lord Hugh Seymour
by HOPPNER, John, Oil on canvas, 96 x 83 cm
Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour (1759-1801) was a senior and experienced British Royal Navy officer of the later eighteenth century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford and became known for his good looks and figure in society as well as his competence as a naval officer, especially in several designs he produced of new sail arrangements. He is also credited with introducing epaulettes for Royal Navy officers and for service in several actions during the American Revolutionary and the French Revolutionary Wars as well as shore duty with the Admiralty. Seymour also held several seats as an MP in the Parliament of Great Britain, although he did not pursue an active political career.
In this half-length portrait the sitter is shown in vice-admiral’s full-dress uniform.