Charles William Meredith van de Velde

In 1844 he had to return to Europe for health reasons, where he carried out cartographic, geographic and ethnographic work and was also employed as a draftsman, and missionary nurse. In 1844, on his return to Europe, he visited Ceylon, the Transvaal and Cape of Good Hope, where he supported the work of missions and for his services provided to French ships, was awarded a Legion of Honour.

The recorded working language is Dutch. Works named in the authority record are 1858 van de Velde maps of Palestine and Jerusalem. Work by Charles William Meredith van de Velde is recorded in the collections of National Museum of World Cultures, Netherlands Photo Museum, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam and Het Scheepvaartmuseum. Distinctions recorded are 3rd Class Order of the Crown and War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71.

• Born — 4 December 1818 • Died — 20 March 1898 • Occupation — Lieutenant-at-sea second class, painter • Illustration — Travellers in a Mountainous Landscape with Snow Covered Peaks by van de Velde

In 1851 Van de Velde visited Palestine, where he carried out various surveys, drawings, paintings and around one hundred watercolours for postcards. After his trip, he held lectures on Palestine in Geneva and Lausanne.

On 13 March 1864, van de Velde was one of the first delegates from the newly formed International Committee of the Red Cross to act as an impartial intermediary in the Second Schleswig War. He assisted the wounded and captured Prussian and Austrian soldiers and helped establish the Red Cross as a relief organization in the 1863 conference resolutions. On 31 July 1867, Van de Velde was made an honorary member of the main Committee of the Red Cross, which included Willem Jan Knoop and Henri Dunant.

• Map of the Holy Land / constructed by C.W.M. van de Velde...; engraved by Eberhardt and by Stichardt, 1858 • Map of the Holy Land / constructed by C.W.M. Van de Velde; 2nd edition, 1865