who is this guy?

[PaulaToo]

Please can someone tell me who this is?
Yeah, if only it was that simple. Realisticly though...

This photo (provided it comes up when I press the button has lived.
It's been trimmed across the bottom to make it fit something, been stuck in a book, picked out again, stamped with my mother's stamp 'J Mathias' and then shuffled around for heaven knows how many years.
So who is it? Well, you're not going to tell me that, but can someone out there give me any idea of the uniform and the date the photo was taken.
I know a bit about costume, but it's all crinolins and leghorn hats, not uniforms.
Thanks in advance, you're a good bunch, I know you'll come up with something.

[Arranroots]

Well Val Paraiso, Chile seems to have been a naval base (just from Googling)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valparaiso

 

[dortmund]

Looks like a naval uniform, on the left arm there's an anchor badge



Trevor

[neil1821]

Yes, Valparaiso was a naval base (see battle of Coronel in WW1 for example)
This chap seems to be Navy, he has the Killick badge (fouled anchor) on his arm which would make him a Leading Seaman I think.

Who do you think it is Paula? With a name and approximate date maybe we can confirm for you.

Neil

[casalguidi]

Hi Paula

Can you find who you think it is in the Royal Navy Service Documents ............

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/royal-navy-service.asp

Casalguidi

[Arranroots]

Calle St Juan de Dios is at bottom right of this map

http://www.turistel.cl/mapas_cyp/valpo.htm

If you could find out when the photographers was there, it would date your photo roughly.

A 

[PaulaToo]

I'm afraid this chap is all part of the infamous Eliza Ann Smith/Moore/Wicks, enigma.

Family legend says it was my mother's 'Uncle Harry' who was in the Merchant Marine.
That's it... end of story...

Well, you've blown the Merchant Matrine part already. Thanks for that, (typed with sarcastic finger but really grateful just more confused)

Family legend also says that two of the Moore family, who seem to have a liking for the name Harry/Henry were drowned. I don't know if this lad was one of them.
Legends aside, Grandmother Harriet had a severe phobia against the sea, so much so that my mother was forbidden to play sea songs on her harmonium.

I can give no date other than a guess of 1880-1920 big help, I know, but out of depth and dont want to be the third one to drown.

Thanks for helping this much. See how useless I am, didn't even think to google, but just mention Eliza and it's straight jacket time!

[Arranroots]

It seems to have been set up in 1870, which might be a bit early for your photo?  You need to get the Photgraph folk onto this:

SAN JUAN DE DIOS (Establecimiento Fotográfico San Juan de Dios)
_______________________________

Establecimiento de Valparaíso que tuvo locales en la calle San Juan de Dios, primero en el n° 23 1/2 y luego en el n° 41. Habría sido creado por Miguel Guillermo Cunich hacia 1870, aunque pudo tener un origen anterior, ya que hay retratos de estudio San Juan n°23 1/2, fechados en 1864.

From: http://www.geocities.com/alloni1/biografiaslatin.htm

A  

[Arranroots]

Here's a photo from the same studio - near the bottom

CDV BUST VIEW UNION NAVAL OFFICER, BM: VALPARAISO, CHILE


http://www.rootschat.com/links/0lz/


The imprint of the studio on the reverse matches, although it is probably earlier as the address is apparently 23 1/2 Clle St Jaun (not 41 as yours is, which was later)

I think you can still see traces of the red mount on yours too.

A