Joseph Jekyll
(1754-1837), Wit, Solicitor-General to the Prince of Wales and politician; MP for CalneRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 16 portraits
Jekyll practised law on the western circuit, and wrote comic pieces for Whig newspapers, in particular, the Morning Chronicle and the Evening Statesman. Jekyll entered Parliament as an MP in 1787. He served as Solicitor General and Master in Chancery, but was chiefly remembered for an embarrassing incident in 1798 in which he told the House that an expedition to Ostend had failed. In fact, it was a success as he was forced to acknowledge the following day. He was satirised by James Gillray for this faux pas, in a cartoon that named him 'the little second-sighted lawyer'. Jekyll is best remembered today for writing The Life of Ignatius Sancho, the biography of a black slave.
by Anton Hickel
oil on canvas, 1793-1795
NPG 745
by George Dance
pencil, 1796
NPG 1146
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, (1796)
NPG D12205
'A ex minister training a terrier at Bowood'
by James Sayers
etching, March 1798
NPG D12262
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 23 June 1798
NPG D12655
'Nelson's Victory; - or - good-news operating upon loyal-feelings'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 3 October 1798
NPG D12659
'Harpyes defiling the feast' (George Tierney; George Shuckburgh; Joseph Jekyll)
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 7 May 1799
NPG D12688
'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 15 April 1799
NPG D13096
'Integrity retiring from office!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 February 1801
NPG D12756
'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1801
NPG D12769
by Anthony Fogg, published by Edward Harding, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1803
NPG D39372
by Anthony Fogg, published by Edward Harding, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1803
NPG D14174
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 July 1805
NPG D12847
by William Say, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1818 (circa 1816-1817)
NPG D36499
after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
photographic print, early 20th century (1730)
NPG D39373
after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
photographic print, early 20th century (1730)
NPG D40331
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