John Sheepshanks

Who was John Sheepshanks?

John Sheepshanks, British manufacturer and art collector, was born in Leeds, and became a partner in his father's business as a cloth manufacturer.

John Sheepshanks collected pictures, mainly by British artists, and in 1857 presented his magnificent collection to the nation. These are at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, which no longer observes all the conditions which he attached to the gift. He retired from business in 1833 and died a bachelor in 1863.

His brother Richard was a distinguished astronomer and man of science, whose collection of instruments eventually passed to the Royal Astronomical Society.