Whitworth Wallis was the first director of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. He was knighted in 1912.
Occupation
exhibition curator, painter
Position held
museum director
Born
June 23, 1855
Died
January 16, 1927
Overview
Whitworth Wallis (23 June 1855 – 16 January 1927) was the first director of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (opened in 1885). He was knighted in 1912.
Early years
Whitworth Wallis was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, and was educated privately in London, Paris and Hanover.
Family
He was the son of artist George Wallis (1811–1891), also the first Keeper of Fine Art Collection at South Kensington Museum (later the Victoria & Albert Museum), and Matilda Condell (1818–1888), who married in 1842. His father's lifelong friend was Sir Joseph Whitworth.
Two of his siblings died in infancy. The others were George Harry (1847–1936; the first Director of Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery, opened 1878), Jane Kate (1849–1934), and Rosa (1857–c.1939; also a successful artist). The family lived at 4, The Residences, South Kensington. He died in Stratford-on-Avon on 16 January 1927 at the age of 71.
