Thomas Whitcombe's elusive life and prolific naval art

Thomas Whitcombe's biography remains uncertain in the account used here. He is thought to have been British and born around 1763, possibly in London, with death or retirement around 1824. His parents and marital status are unknown. Estimates of his output run to perhaps 200 canvases, with about 150 Royal Navy actions represented. He appears to have lived in London, Bristol, Wales, and Devon, while paintings of the Cape of Good Hope, Cuba, and Cape Horn suggest extensive travel. His well-appointed Covent Garden addresses suggest that he earned substantial money from his work. He exhibited fifty-six times at the Royal Academy between 1783 and 1824, and many of his paintings entered the National Maritime Museum's collection.