A framed portrait engraving by George H Phillips from the painting by William Owen R.A. showing the Naval Officer an statesman Captain Sir Christopher Cole.

Sir Christopher Cole (1770-1836) was a Royal Naval officer whose exploits included the conquest of Java, for which he was knighted, and the capture of Banda Neira during the Invasion of the Spice Islands in 1810. This action, which earned him the epithet of ‘The Conqueror of Banda’, was described by the Prime Minister Spencer Perceval as ‘an exploit to be classed with the boldest darings in the days of chivalry’.

Sir Christopher later served as MP for Glamorganshire between 1817 and 1830 and died at his seat of Lanely Hall in Pontyclun and is buried in St Andrew’s Church, Penrice.