William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath (1684-1764), Statesman
Sitter in 15 portraits
Throughout the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14), Pulteney played a prominent part in the Whig struggle to regain power from the Tories. He became a Whig Member of Parliament in 1705 and held a number of government posts before falling out with Sir Robert Walpole, the Whig Prime Minister. From his opposition faction, Pulteney was in a position to take over the government on three occasions, but failed to do so. When Walpole fell from power in 1742, Pulteney declined two requests by George II to form a government, accepting instead the first Lordship of the Treasury in the 1st Earl of Wilmington's ministry (1742-3) and the earldom of Bath.
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1717
On display in Room 9 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3194
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by Jacques Antoine Dassier
bronze medal, 1744
NPG 6233
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, (circa 1755-1757)
NPG 35
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1761
On display on Floor 2: Getting the Picture at Beningbrough Hall
NPG 337
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by John Simon, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (circa 1717)
NPG D663
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1732
NPG D33125
The Treacherous Patriot Unmask'd (William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath)
by Unknown artist
mezzotint, published 1742
NPG D9351
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by James Scott, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (circa 1755-1757)
NPG D666
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by James Scott, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (circa 1755-1757)
NPG D667
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by James Macardell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1758 (1757)
NPG D664
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by James Macardell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1758 (1757)
NPG D665
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by William Henry Mote, published by Harding & Lepard, after Charles Jervas
line engraving, published 1831
NPG D21503
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by John Simon, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (circa 1717)
NPG D18764
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1732 (1717)
NPG D18825
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by William Henry Mote, published by Harding & Lepard, after Charles Jervas
line engraving, published 1 January 1832
NPG D14019
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