Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt
(1810-1855), Politician, First Commissioner of Works and Colonial SecretaryEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 20 portraits
Studied at Cambridge and in Germany and Italy. He returned to Britain in 1831, during the parliamentary struggle over reform and was elected as an MP in 1832. Declaring himself a radical, he championed national education, free trade, the secret ballot, removal of property qualifications for MPs and abolition of the House of Lords. As a radical baronet, he attracted the attentions of George Grote MP, a City banker, and his wife, Harriet, a political activist. He was recruited to their circle; through them he met John Stuart Mill and in 1835 agreed to finance the launch of the London Review and its merger with the Westminster Review. He was a co-founder of the Reform Club.
Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt
by Sir John Watson-Gordon
oil on canvas, 1854
NPG 810
by Sir John Gilbert
pencil, pen and ink and wash, 1855
NPG 1125
Engraving after 'The Coalition Ministry, 1854'
by William Walker, after Sir John Gilbert
engraving, 1857
NPG 1125a
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 16 February 1837
NPG D41403
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 30 March 1837
NPG D41411
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 12 May 1837
NPG D41416
Jaffiers Introduction to the Conspirators
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 10 January 1838
NPG D41446
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 13 February 1838
NPG D41454
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 3 April 1838
NPG D41465
A Leading Article (Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt)
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 2 May 1838
NPG D41469
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 3 December 1838
NPG D41497
Another Peep Into the Play Ground
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 31 December 1838
NPG D41500
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 3 December 1838
NPG D46341
Another Peep Into the Play Ground
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 31 December 1838
NPG D46343
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 15 April 1839
NPG D41520
'The New Ministry - the Cabinet', January 1853
by Frederick James Smyth, published by Illustrated London News
wood engraving, published 8 January 1853
NPG D45901
Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt
by and published by William Walker
mezzotint, published 15 March 1856
NPG D38853
Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt
by Daniel Maclise
lithograph, 1873
NPG D5267
Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt
by Daniel Maclise, published by James Fraser
lithograph, 1873
NPG D5745
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