Portrait of Sir Henry Cholmley of West Newton Grange (1609-1666), bust-length, in a brown cloak, in a feigned oval

There has been some confusion in the past as to the identity of the sitter in the present portrait, he has often been mis-identified as Sir Hugh Cholmley, 4th Bt. In fact, this is Sir Henry Cholmley of West Newton Grange, brother of Sir Hugh Chomley, 1st Bt. (and by association uncle to the 4th Bt.). Sir Henry was a political figure of some importance. He was the MP for Malton, North Yorkshire in the Long Parliament of 1640-1660, and a supporter of the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, acting as colonel of foot in the parliamentary army from 1642 to 1644 and directing the first siege of Pontefract in 1644. However, shortly before the Restoration of Charles II, Sir Henry switched his alliegance to the Royalist cause and supported Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, in overthrowing the military junta. In 1666 he was persuaded to deputise for his nephew, Sir Hugh Cholmley, in overseeing harbour works at Tangier, but died shortly after his arrival in Morocco.