Background
Ingham was born in 1796 in Dublin, Ireland. He was a descendant of a man who went to Ireland as an officer in Cromwell's army.
Ingham was born in 1796 in Dublin, Ireland. He was a descendant of a man who went to Ireland as an officer in Cromwell's army.
Ingham studied art from 1809 to 1813 at The Dublin Institution with William Cuming.
Ingham emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-one. Settling in New York City, he distinguished himself by his oil painting, but also in watercolor on ivory, a standard medium for miniature portraits since the 18th century. His work in oil is marked by a high finish achieved by successive glazings. He became identified with the art life of that country, being one of the founders of the National Academy of New York in 1826 and its vice-president from 1845 to 1850. He painted portraits of the reigning beauties of New York and acquired considerable reputation, continuing to practise his profession until his death, in New York, on the 10th of December 1863.