Richard Simkin was a British artist and best known as an illustrator of military uniforms. To this day, we know very little about his works, as most of them were used as illustrations for books and newspapers. Although we own many of Simkin's works, we know very little about his personal life and how he became passionate about art. He was born on November 5, 1850, in Herne Bay, Kent, the son of a traveling merchant named Richard. After becoming an artist, Richard Simkin Jr. worked for the British War Office: illustrating the army and navy newspaper he edited and designing agitation posters for recruitment in the army.
During his life Simkin painted thousands of watercolors, which made him very famous. He mainly painted the uniforms and combat operations of the British Army, including Indian and other colonial troops. The British War Office actively supported Simkin's work by providing him with all sorts of samples, uniforms and equipment to best realize his works. Another major work that made Simkin famous was illustrating a number of books, including those on military subjects. Some of the most famous books illustrated by Simkin include The War in Egypt, Where Glory Calls, and The Soldier's Scrap Book. Probably the best known book of all is British Soldiers Past and Present: Their Dress and Equipment.
During his life he collaborated with famous magazines, such as The Graphic and Boys' Own.In 1880 Richard Simkin married a woman named Harriet and lived with her for a long time in Aldershot, Hampshire (England), visiting London regularly. Nevertheless, he did not forget his hometown, to which he apparently still moved later. Richard Simkin died on June 25, 1926, at his home in Cavendish Street in Herne Bay, leaving behind a wife and two daughters. The cause of the artist's death is not known, but it is very likely that he died of old age or from the effects of illness. Today Simkin's paintings can be seen in many British regimental museums, his illustrations appear in editions of regimental histories, and his watercolors are frequently offered at auction.
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.jpg "Our British Cavalry, 1890 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The 16th Regiment of Foot at Blenheim, 13th August 1704, c.1900 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the British Army by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Field of Waterloo on the Morning of the Battle, Sunday, June 18, 1815, 1902 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Charge of the 1st Life Guards at Genappe, 17 June 1815 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Battle of Ramillies, The 16th Foot charging the French Infantry by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards Repulsing the Final Charge of the Old Guard at the Battle of Waterloo, 18th June 1815 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Colonel Gervase Francis Newport Tinley, 1st Bombay Lancers by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Royal Marine Light Infantry Band leading a Column of Marching Men, 1895 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders at the Battle of Balaclava 25 October 1854: The Thin Red Line, 1854 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "British Soldier by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the Italian Army, 1919 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Military Uniforms of the British Army by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the Austro-Hungarian Army, 1919 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Royal Fusiliers by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - Epoch of Marlborough by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The 20th Light Dragoons at the Battle of Vimeiro, 21st August 1808 by Richard Simkin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-204128).jpg "The Viceroy")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-220383).jpg "The Black Watch, Royal Highlanders by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Soldiers of the Gold Coast Regiment outside the Regimental HQ at Kumasi by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Infantry, West India Regiment by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Two British Soldiers (Nine illustrations of British military uniforms) by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "British Soldier by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Detail of the Scots Fusilier Guards at the Battle of the Alma by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1082504).jpg "The Corps of Guides, c.1895 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Military Uniforms of the British and Indian Armies by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Busaco, September 27th 1810 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Two British Soldiers (series title: Nine Depictions of British Military Uniforms) by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Peninsular Epoch by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "A Trooper of the 2nd Dragoon Guards by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the French Army, 1919 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "British Soldier by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Tent Pegging May Good Fortune Crown All Your Endeavours This Christmas by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Occupation of the Citadel of Cairo by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-162995).jpg "The Princess Louise")
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.jpg "Three British Soldiers (series title: Nine Depictions of British Military Uniforms) by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Thin Red Line, 1854 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Highland Light Infantry by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "British Soldier (Nine Depictions of British Military Uniforms) by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the Indian Army by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Battle of the Pyrenees, 1813, 1900 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Second Volunteer Battalion, Royal Fusiliers by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The 23rd Regiment Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the Battle of the Alma on 20th September, 1854 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Restoration by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Officers of the British Army in Uniform by R. Simkin by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Commonwealth by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-176722).jpg "The Queen")
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.jpg "72nd Duke of Albany")
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.jpg "Battle of Malplaquet by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Private in Full Dress by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Crimean Epoch by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Royal Marine Artillery, 1897 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the Territorial Army, from")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-207449).jpg "Drums and Fifes, Grenadier Guards by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Newport Tinley of the Cape Mounted Riflemen by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Charge of the 7th Foot Royal Fusiliers, Martinique, 1st February, 1809 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The 27th Inniskilling Regiment at Toulouse, 10 April 1814, circa 1900 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The Battle of Salamanca, 22 July 1812, circa 1900 by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-218011).jpg "The Gordon Highlanders by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-996718).jpg "Infantry, 2nd West India Regiment by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Uniforms of the Rifle Brigade by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Three British Soldiers, Nine Depictions of British Military Uniforms (series title) by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the Russian Army by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Soudan by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-254424).jpg "The Highland Light Infantry by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "George William Frederick Charles, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, British Soldier by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Members of the Royal Engineers by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Bunker")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Revolution by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the Belgian Army, 1919 by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "The last stand of the 44th East Essex Regiment at Gandamuk by Richard Simkin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-186189).jpg "Cameron Highlanders by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Types of the German Army by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Uniforms of the Royal Regiment of Artillery by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "14th Regiment of Foot by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Epochs of the British Army - The Georgian Epoch by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Ten Coloured Engravings of Officers in Uniform by Richard Simkin")
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.jpg "Grenadier Guards Relieving Guard at St. James")
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