John Thomas Serres (1759–1825)

• Was an English maritime painter.
• John Thomas Serres was born in London in December 1759 to Dominic Serres, a prominent painter.
• Instructed by his father, John was involved in the publication of the maritime painter's guide Liber Nauticus.
• The Royal Academy and British Institution exhibiting over 100 of his paintings over his lifetime.
• In 1790-1791 he recorded his impressions in sketches documenting a voyage he made along the French and Italian coasts.

• He also became Master of Drawing at the Royal Naval College in Chelsea and in 1793 was made Marine Painter to the King after his father's death.

• Serres' successful career was badly damaged by the activities of his wife Olivia Serres, who came to believe that she was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and publicly pressed her "claim" to his estate, insisting on being addressed as "Princess Olive of Cumberland".

• His wife's activities ruined him and he died in December 1825 in a London debtors' prison.

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