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John Thelwall (1764-1834), Reformer and elocutionist

Sitter in 12 portraits
Born in Covent Garden the son of a silk merchant. Largely self-educated, he published a volume of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, in 1787 and The Peripatetic; or, Sketches of the Heart, of Nature and Society; in a Series of Politico-Sentimental Journals in 1793. He also became editor and principal contributor to the Biographical and Imperial Magazine. From 1795 to 1796, he published The Tribune, a periodical that mostly consisted of his own political lectures. He began his career as a political lecturer by speaking at public debating societies. He helped form the London Corresponding Society in 1792, and was one of the members of this movement who were tried, and acquitted, for treason in 1794.

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2163

John Thelwall

attributed to John Hazlitt
oil on canvas, circa 1800-1805
On display at Dove Cottage & Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere
NPG 2163

D38540

John Thelwall

by Henry James Richter
stipple engraving, published 8 December 1794
NPG D38540

D12546

'Copenhagen house'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 November 1795
NPG D12546

D12579

'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 October 1796
NPG D12579

D12592

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D12592

D12598

'The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 February 1797
NPG D12598

D15627

'The delegates in council or beggars on horseback'

by Isaac Cruikshank, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 9 June 1797
NPG D15627

D13093

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13093

D13094

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13094

D12677

'A charm for a democracy, reviewed, analysed, & destroyed Jany 1st 1799 to the confusion of its affiliated friends'

by Thomas Rowlandson, published by James Whittle
hand-coloured etching, published 1 February 1799
NPG D12677

D15640

John Thelwall

by William Ridley
stipple engraving, published circa 1794
NPG D15640

D15304

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D15304

Category
Politics, Government and Diplomacy
Groups
Regency rebels, radicals and reformers
Place
London