Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745), Prime Minister
Sitter in 27 portraits
Walpole was a Whig statesman but in all but name he was Prime Minister, 1721-42. He came to office in the wake of the South Sea Bubble crisis and built up British prosperity in a long period of peace by his economic reforms. He obtained more power than any previous minister and remained in office for over twenty years, resorting to bribery and patronage to overcome unpopularity. His reign came to an end when he was drawn into an unsuccessful war with Spain, which came to be known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. He was, however, made Earl of Orford in 1742 after his defeat in the House of Commons.
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1710-1715
On display in Room 9 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3220
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Michael Rysbrack
terracotta bust, 1738
On display in Room 11 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2126
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
studio of Jean Baptiste van Loo
oil on canvas, (1740)
NPG 70
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Arthur Pond
oil on canvas, 1742
NPG 6085
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Simon, after Charles Jervas
mezzotint, circa 1725
NPG D3761
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Gerhard Bockman, after Thomas Gibson
mezzotint, circa 1727-1742
NPG D5420
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by and published by John Simon, after Hans Hysing
mezzotint, circa 1727-1742
NPG D5724
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
published by John Cooper, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1727-1729
NPG D5725
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1733
NPG D33120
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1733
NPG D19606
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D39366
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D18696
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D16747
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by George Vertue, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
line engraving, 1748 (1744)
NPG D5417
by John Pine
line engraving, published 1749
NPG D11092
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
published by Silvester Harding, after Jonathan Richardson
stipple engraving, published 16 August 1800
NPG D5418
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
after Jonathan Richardson
stipple engraving, published 1806
NPG D5419
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford; James Wolfe; William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
by Thomas Abiel Prior, after Unknown artist, and after J.S.C. Schaak, and after Richard Brompton
line engraving, mid 19th century
NPG D17872
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Unknown engraver
mezzotint
NPG D19854
To the Glory of the Rt. Honble. Sr. Robert Walpole (Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford)
by Paul Fourdrinier, after F. Dumouchel, and after J. Faget
line engraving, 1730
NPG D39362
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D39365
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D16746
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by James Watson, published by John Boydell, and published by Josiah Boydell, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
mezzotint, published 1 January 1788
NPG D39367
by Anthony Fogg, published by Edward Harding, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1803
NPG D39372
by Anthony Fogg, published by Edward Harding, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1803
NPG D14174
by Unknown artist, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
photographic print, early 20th century (1730)
NPG D39373
by Unknown artist, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
photographic print, early 20th century (1730)
NPG D40331
Walpole
Related People
Maria (née Walpole), Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (granddaughter)
Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (son)
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (grandson)
Horatio ('Horace') Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (son)
Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (nephew)
Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton (brother)
Catherine Walpole (née Shorter), Lady Walpole (wife)
Sir Edward Walpole (grandfather)
Galfridus Walpole (brother)
Thomas Walpole (nephew)
Links
Houghton Hall, Norfolk
Category
Politics, Government and Diplomacy
Groups
British Prime Ministers
Kit-cat Club
Place
Norfolk
Related pages
Thematic collections
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