William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne
(1737-1805), Prime Minister and patron of the artsMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 68 portraits
Petty, who was styled Viscount Fitzmaurice, entered the Army after university and served in the Seven Years' War. In 1760, he was promoted colonel and appointed aide-de-camp to King George III. That year he was elected to Parliament for the borough of Chipping Wycombe. Before he could take his seat, his father died and he entered the House of Lords. He served in senior offices including First Lord of Trade and Home Secretary. In 1782 he was appointed Prime Minister on the death of Lord Rockingham. The Whigs refused to serve under him and combined with Lord North to defeat him the following year. In 1784, he was created Marquess of Lansdowne, after which he retired from politics.
William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne
by Henry Bone, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, September 1807 (1787-1788)
NPG D17319
by James Ward, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1807 (1787-1788)
NPG D7391
William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne
by John Henry Robinson, published by Harding & Lepard, after William Derby, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1 January 1832 (1766)
NPG D37169
William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne
by John Henry Robinson, published by Harding & Lepard, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1 December 1836 (1766)
NPG D15788
by G.F. Storm, printed by S.H. Hawkins, published by John Britton, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1847 (1787-1788)
NPG D37177
by G.F. Storm, printed by S.H. Hawkins, published by John Britton, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1847 (1787-1788)
NPG D7400
William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne)
by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1787
NPG D20263
by James Ward, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1807 (1787-1788)
NPG D49383
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