Short answers, pulled from the story.
The National Portrait Gallery London opened its doors on the 4th of April 1896. This historic opening marked the establishment of the first national public gallery in the world dedicated exclusively to portraits.
Philip Stanhope the 5th Earl Stanhope first proposed the idea for the National Portrait Gallery London in 1846 as a Member of Parliament. The gallery was established through his persistent efforts which required three attempts and the approval of Queen Victoria to secure funding.
On the 1st of February 1909 John Tempest Dawson shot his wife Nannie Caskie and then himself in the Arctic Room of the National Portrait Gallery London. Dawson died instantly while his wife died in hospital several hours later following the shooting.
The National Portrait Gallery London reopened to the public on the 22nd of June 2023 after a three-year closure. The Princess of Wales officially reopened the gallery on the 20th of June 2023.
Victoria Siddall is the current director of the National Portrait Gallery London having taken over the role in 2024. She followed a period of interim leadership by Michael Elliott.