[Colnett] Portrait Miniarture of James Poate

Artist Unknown

Published by London circa 1800-1805, 1800

Finely executed oval miniature, 67 mm. tall (not including suspension loop), in a rose-gold frame; lock of hair preserved on the back under glass; together with Poate's shirt or cravat buckle. Charming and beautifully executed miniature of First Lieutenant James Poate, veteran of the first fur-trading voyage of James Colnett in 1786, which traded along the Pacific northwest coast, wintering in Hawaii. James Poate (c. 1775-1852) was the eldest child of George Poate, a successful chandler who married Sarah Colnett, the young sister of the explorer James Colnett, who as a midshipman had sailed on Cook's second voyage. Poate had joined the Royal Navy as a child in 1784 and was clearly dependent on his uncle Colnett, being entered as his servant on the books of the Pegase - a traditional road to advancement in the Royal Navy of this time. Colnett transferred directly from the Pegase to the Prince Wales as commander of his own voyage to the Pacific. Poate almost certainly sailed with him; although too junior to be specifically mentioned in the crew books, his presence aboard is effectively confirmed by the fact that he and Colnett discharged from the Pegase on the same day (see Colnett's Journals ed. Robert M Galois; Galois argues that Poat 'probably went on the voyage', pp. 289 & 296). Poate went on to a long and distinguished career, including serving as First Lieutenant on the Minerva, in which position he attended the funeral of Nelson in 1805. He married in 1810 and had five children. In this fine portrait he is depicted wearing his officer's blue coat with standing collar, white facings and gold buttons. To the back of the miniature there is a cutting of his hair. The portrait remained until very recently in the possession of his descendants; it is accompanied by a silver shirt-buckle also identified by the family as having belonged to him. Seller Inventory # 145437

Bibliographic Details

Title: [Colnett] Portrait Miniarture of James Poate
Publisher: London circa 1800-1805
Publication Date: 1800