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Portrait of a Hero - John Innes of Newburgh
Portrait of a Hero - John Innes of Newburgh
Portrait of a Hero - John Innes of Newburgh

Portrait of a Hero - John Innes of Newburgh

Artist (Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
Associated
Date1936
Mediumoil on canvas
ClassificationsMcBey
DimensionsOverall: Height: 81.7 cm, Width: 61.2 cm
Frame: Height: 107.4 cm, Width: 86.7 cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1960 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Aberdeen City Council (McBey Collection)
LocationOn Display - Gallery 13
Object numberABDAG002944
Keywords
About MeJohn Innes was a quietly spoken man and an elder of the Church of Scotland at the artist James McBey's hometown of Foveran, near Newburgh in Aberdeenshire.
He was also coxswain of the Newburgh lifeboat from 1908 - 1931 and his son, James, was bowman from 1919 - 1951. Both men became heroes on 19th October 1923, playing a critical role in rescuing the crew from the "Imperial Prince" after it ran aground on a shoal off the Aberdeenshire coast in the early hours of the day. The Newburgh lifeboat twice attempted to rescue the crew, but after the second attempt had to return exhausted. A crew of blue-jackets from a cruiser in Aberdeen harbour volunteered to take the lifeboat out again and Innes went as a coxswain for the third time. The attempt was largely successful, they rescued seven of the nine crewmen. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute awarded him a silver medal and his son received a bronze which is still in the family today.

James McBey visited Newburgh a number of times throughout his life and must have painted this portrait of the village's local hero on one of those visits.


ADOPT AN ARTWORK. This artwork is available for Adoption. To find out more please email AAGMSupport-Us@aberdeencity.gov.uk
More About Me
John Innes was the coxswain of the Newburgh lifeboat and became a hero on the 19th October 1923 when he helped rescue the crew from the "Imperial Prince" after it ran aground on a shoal off the Aberdeenshire coast.
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