5929423 ?Observatory, Cape Town. The Residence of Sir J Maclear?, c.1859-62 (w/c) by Sanford, George E.L.S. (fl.1862); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: ?Observatory, Cape Town. The Residence of Sir J Maclear?. From a box of 81 watercolours by Lieutenant (later General) George E L S Sanford, Royal Engineers. The Kingdom of the Netherlands had ceded Cape Town to the British in January 1814. Its strategic position as the halfway point between Europe and Asia meant that prior to the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 almost every ship heading east docked at Cape Town. Sanford painted this view during a break in his voyage to take part in the 2nd China War (1857-1860).); by National Army Museum .