Desmasduit, 1819
Artist: Hamilton, Lady Henrietta Martha (ca. 1780-1857)
Medium: watercolour on ivory
Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.5 cm (support)

Desmasduit was a Beothuk, the now extinct native people of Newfoundland. The Beothuk were eventually decimated by conflict with whites and by disease. Desmasduit was captured in 1818 by a fisherman and taken to St. John's to be shown to the governor, Sir Charles Hamilton. While in captivity she was given the name of Mary March after the month of her capture. The governor ordered her returned to her people, but her poor health prevented this. She died of tuberculosis on 20 January 1820. This miniature of Desmasduit was done by the governor's wife and is the only known portrait of a Beothuk done from life. The last Beothuk died in 1829.

National Archives of Canada, negative no. C-087698