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Sydney Smith

(1771-1845), Wit and Canon of St Paul's

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 9 portraits
A clergyman, essayist and social reformer, Smith founded the Whig Edinburgh Review with Francis Jeffrey and Henry Brougham in 1802. For the next twenty-five years he used this periodical as an organ for his liberal views on educational reform, the slave trade and the Irish situation. Smith was perhaps the most celebrated wit of his age and an exuberant member of the Holland House set. His humorous Letters to Peter Plymley (1807-8) supported Catholic emancipation. Although later appointed Canon of St Paul's Cathedral, his hopes for a bishopric were frustrated by his public reputation as an enlightened Whig.

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Sydney Smith, replica by Henry Perronet Briggs - NPG 1475

Sydney Smith

replica by Henry Perronet Briggs
oil on canvas, 1840, based on a work of 1833
NPG 1475

Sydney Smith, by Samuel Freeman, published by  T. Cadell & W. Davies, after  John Wright - NPG D7661

Sydney Smith

by Samuel Freeman, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after John Wright
stipple engraving, published 4 February 1817
NPG D7661

Sydney Smith, by William Sharp, printed by  Charles Joseph Hullmandel, published by  Joseph Dickinson, after  John Hayter - NPG D41764

Sydney Smith

by William Sharp, printed by Charles Joseph Hullmandel, published by Joseph Dickinson, after John Hayter
lithograph, published 20 April 1835
NPG D41764

Sydney Smith, by Daniel Maclise, published by  James Fraser - NPG D6786

Sydney Smith

by Daniel Maclise, published by James Fraser
lithograph, 1838
NPG D6786

Dives and Lazarus (Charles James Blomfield; William Howley; Sydney Smith), by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by  Alfred Ducôte, published by  Thomas McLean - NPG D41590

Dives and Lazarus (Charles James Blomfield; William Howley; Sydney Smith)

by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 7 October 1840
NPG D41590

Sydney Smith, by William Greatbach, after  Eden Upton Eddis - NPG D41763

Sydney Smith

by William Greatbach, after Eden Upton Eddis
line engraving, published 1850
NPG D41763

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