John Frederick Herring

John Frederick Herring, Sr. (1795 - 1865), alternatively known as John Frederick Herring I, can be characterized as a multifaceted figure in Victorian England. Alongside his pursuits as a painter, he also engaged in the trades of sign making and coachmanship.
 
One of John F. Herring Sr.'s notable works is the painting "Pharoah's Chariot Horses" from 1848 (spelled archaically as "Pharoah"). Notably, in 1836, he adjusted his signature to include the designation "SR" (senior) as a means of distinguishing himself, a change prompted by the rising fame of his teenage son, John Frederick Herring Jr., who was one of four children.
 
The year of Herring's birth was 1795, and he entered the world as the offspring of a London merchant with Dutch lineage, born overseas in America. His early years, until the age of eighteen, were spent in London, where his passions revolved around drawing and equestrian pursuits. However, a pivotal turn arrived in 1814 when, at the age of 18, he relocated to Doncaster in the northern part of England. His arrival coincided with a momentous event—the victory of the Duke of Hamilton's horse named "William" in the St. Ledger Stakes horse race.