Explore: Thomas William Ogilvie McNiven

(1792 - c.1870)

Topographical and biblical artist Thomas William Ogilvie McNiven was born in Banff, Scotland. He was commissioned in the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch) in 1812 and served at Gibraltar and at the Battle of Toulouse in 1814. Although wounded at Toulouse, he recovered and later served with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and the Surreys (70th Regiment of Foot). He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1841. McNiven exhibited views of Elba and Paestum at the Society of British Artists in 1846. He also gave sketches to other artists, such as Henry Martens, to be worked up into paintings. In 1861 he was resident in Edinburgh. His watercolours of the Battles of Vitoria and Toulouse are now in the National Army Museum, London.