A Royal Navy frigate with a cutter yacht passing astern of her in a stiff breeze; Warships and other coastal craft in the Channel off the south coast; A Royal Navy frigate running before the wind in the Channel off the South Downs; and A Royal Navy two-decker, fishing craft and a paddlesteamer in an offshore breeze (all illustrated)

Born in London in 1817, the son and pupil of Thomas Buttersworth, James Edward followed his father in his profession and worked in a fairly similar style. Nevertheless, because he was brought up in a time of peace, he painted general shipping and yachting scenes, rather than the battle pictures which had characterised his father's early work. Emigrating to America (c.1845-47), he settled in West Hoboken, New Jersey, where he remained for the rest of his life. His work for the lithographer, Nathaniel Currier of Currier and Ives, allowed his work to reach a far wider audience.