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Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine

(1750-1823), Lord Chancellor

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 69 portraits
Erskine was a lawyer and Whig politician who rose to prominence defending political radicals during the 1790s. He was Lord Chancellor in Grenville's coalition 'Ministry of All the Talents'. Erskine stood for free speech and a free press and is remembered primarily as one of the great advocates in English legal history. He rose to prominence defending political radicals in the 1790s, winning a notable victory against the State during the infamous Treason Trials of 1794. His best known client was Thomas Paine whom he defended unsuccessfully against a charge of seditious libel after the publication of his Rights of Man (1791). Erskine's last notable case was his defence of Queen Caroline at her divorce 'trial' in 1820.

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Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, by and published by John Jones, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D36200

Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine

by and published by John Jones, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1786
NPG D36200

Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, by and published by William Sharp, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D15331

Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine

by and published by William Sharp, after Richard Cosway
line engraving, published 2 May 1791
NPG D15331

'Bar eloquence', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12510

'Bar eloquence'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 6 January 1795
NPG D12510

'The Crown and Anchor libel, burnt by the public hangman', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12550

'The Crown and Anchor libel, burnt by the public hangman'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 28 November 1795
NPG D12550

Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, by G. Murray, published by  Benjamin Crosby, after  Isaac Cruikshank - NPG D15492

Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine

by G. Murray, published by Benjamin Crosby, after Isaac Cruikshank
line engraving, published 12 January 1795
NPG D15492

'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG 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

The Budget or John Bull Frightned [Frightened] out of his wits, by Isaac Cruikshank, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D47470

The Budget or John Bull Frightned [Frightened] out of his wits

by Isaac Cruikshank, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 20 November 1796
NPG D47470

'The presentation - or - the wise men's offering', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12553

'The presentation - or - the wise men's offering'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 January 1796
NPG D12553

'The giant factotem amusing himself', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12593

'The giant factotem amusing himself'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 21 January 1797
NPG D12593

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG 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

'The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG 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

'Midas, transmuting all, into paper', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12603

'Midas, transmuting all, into paper'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 March 1797
NPG D12603

'Parliamentary-reform, - or - opposition-rats, leaving the house they had undermined', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12614

'Parliamentary-reform, - or - opposition-rats, leaving the house they had undermined'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 28 May 1797
NPG D12614

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG 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

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