John Middleton

John Middleton was born on 30 June 1853 at 7 Moffats Court, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, his parents were Robert and Rebecca (Thompson). He married Mary Ann Alexandra Johnston at Bishopwearmouth 16 September 1875 and they had seven children. He worked as a seaman in the merchant service. by 1880, he was a railway porter at Sunderland and from 1882-1917 was Police Constable No. 9, River Wear Watch, Sunderland, Co. Durham. He died on 6 February 1936 at 40 Hunter Terrace South, Sunderland.

Other known paintings:

Steamship Strathbeg, 1893 - privately owned

Schooner Despatch, 1903 - privately owned

Ship Alma 1912 and brig Tay, both in collection of Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery

Two other paintings are known to have been exhibited at a Peterhead exhibition and two others are believed to be in the collection of the Fishertown Museum, Nairn.

Information from Neil Mearns, Sunderland March 2002