Richard Hooke was born in County Down, and was a carpenter. He showed a gift for painting, and this was encouraged by Samuel Fergusson, manager of the Sion flax-spinning mills. Fergusson taught him photography, which Richard Hooke used in his portrait painting. He moved to Belfast, and painted the portraits of many people, including those of Samuel McCausland and John Browne. He exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy from 1850 to 1856, and from 1873 until his death. He painted a protrait of the Marquis of Downshire, his patron, and this was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1872.

Born:	1822
Died:	1887