Artist. Born in Bloomsbury, London, he trained first under his father, then at the Government School of Design at Somerset House and afterwards at private art schools. He also studied with Edward Hodges Baily. At the age of eighteen he went to work for the silversmiths Hunt and Roskell. His works included “Kean Testimonial”, a set of nine pieces of silver presented to the actor Charles Kean, and the “Outram Shield” (1862), made for presentation to Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram. He made both the clay models for the objects, and chased the cast silver. In the late 1850s Henry was commissioned to make a statue of Aristotle in Caen stone for the Museum of Natural History in Oxford. Commissions for work at the Palace of Westminster, and the Albert Memorial helped Armstead to establish his reputation.  His sense of style and nobility was remarkable. He possessed a power of design and draughtsmanship.  He was elected associate of the Royal Academy in 1875 and a full member in 1880. (bio by: Shock)