Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
(1750-1823), Lord ChancellorRegency 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.
by Anton Hickel
oil on canvas, 1793-1795
NPG 745
The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820
by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1820-1823
NPG 999
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by Sir William Charles Ross
oil on canvas, 1823
NPG 960
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
line engraving, published 2 May 1791
NPG D15331
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 6 January 1795
NPG D12510
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 2 March 1795
NPG D12519
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 11 May 1795
NPG D12522
'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
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, soft-ground etching and engraving, published 30 April 1795
NPG D13083
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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 20 November 1796
NPG D47470
'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
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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 16 February 1797
NPG D12598
'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
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
etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D15304
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