William Corden the Elder

William Corden the Elder (21 January 1795 – 18 June 1867) was an English portrait painter and miniaturist known for his commissions from the Royal Family in the mid nineteenth century.

He was apprenticed at the Royal Crown Derby pottery under Robert Bloor[2] and is reputed to have been among the painters decorating the famous Rockingham Pottery dessert service made for William IV[3] which was first used at Queen Victoria's coronation celebrations.

He married Esther Simpson in Derby on 25 September 1816;[4] he rented an artist's studio at 51 Oxford Street, London and exhibited at the Royal Academy.

In 1844 William accepted a commission from Prince Albert to travel to Coburg to paint full size reproductions of family portraits there[10] and took his son William with him to assist.

Esther died in Windsor in 1855 and William moved back to the midlands.