Captain William Alexander Dobie
(12th Lancers)

[This portrait does not appear in the Silvy daybooks but judging by the background and props, the sitting almost certainly took place between July 1863 and June 1864, the period covered by the missing volume of the daybooks. This is confirmed by an inscription on the album page, which dates the portrait to 1864. The sitter is identified on the album page, but the inscription is difficult to decipher. It appears to read ‘Captain Dohee,' but this is probably Captain William Alexander Dobie of the 12th Lancers.

There is a portrait of a man identified as ‘Captain Dobie’ in the Silvy daybooks (volume 7, page 46, sitting number 8430) but that sitter is not the same man as the one seen here. There is, however, a marked resemblance, particularly with regard to the shape of the forehead and the hairline, so the two men are quite possibly brothers.]

William Alexander Dobie joined the Army as a Cornet or Ensign on 6 April 1855. He was promoted Lieutenant by purchase on 24 February 1857. When Hart’s Army List for 1859 was published, he was serving in the 1st West India Regiment of Foot. He was promoted Captain, again by purchase, on 29 November 1859. According to the London Gazette (31 January 1860), he had recently transferred from the 1st West Indian Regiment to the 14th Regiment of Foot. According to the United Service Magazine, he transferred from the 14th Foot to the 12th Lancers in 1862. 

On 30 April 1867 Alexander Dobie, Esq., 'late Captain 12th Royal Lancers, eldest son of Alexander Dobie, Esq., [of] Hyde Park-terrace, Kensington Gore, London' married 'Ellen Arabella Caroline, daughter of Charles Arthur Walker, Esq., Vice-Lieutenant, county of Wexford.' The wedding took place at 'Tykillen House, the residence of the bride's father' (Dublin Evening Mail, 3 May 1867). 

Captain William Alexander Dobie of New Lodge, St John's Park, Ryde on the Isle of Wight died on 11 February 1912, leaving an estate valued at £53,216.

[Unfortunately, an inscription on the album page says the sitter seen here 'died in August 1867,' which rather disproves my identification. Either the inscription is wrong or my reading of the man's name is wrong.]