Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
(1676-1745), Prime MinisterEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 27 portraits
In all but name, Robert Walpole was Britain’s first Prime Minister between 1721 and 1742. A Whig statesman, he came to power in the wake of the ‘South Sea Bubble’. This was a financial crash based on speculation in the South Sea Company, which traded enslaved Africans with the Spanish Americas. He built up British prosperity in the long period of peace that followed. Walpole lost money during the crisis yet these losses were balanced by his investment in another slaving company, the Royal African Company. He obtained more power than any previous minister and remained in office for over twenty years, resorting to bribery to overcome his lack of popularity. His power came to an end when he was drawn into an unsuccessful conflict with Spain, which became known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. He was made Earl of Orford in 1742 after his defeat in the House of Commons.
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1715
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3220
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Michael Rysbrack
terracotta bust, 1738
On display in Room 3 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2126
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
studio of Jean Baptiste van Loo
oil on canvas, 1740
NPG 70
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Arthur Pond
oil on canvas, 1742
NPG 6085
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Simon, after Charles Jervas
mezzotint, circa 1725
NPG D3761
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Gerhard Bockman, after Thomas Gibson
mezzotint, circa 1727-1742
NPG D5420
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by and published by John Simon, after Hans Hysing
mezzotint, circa 1727-1742
NPG D5724
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
published by John Cooper, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1727-1729
NPG D5725
To the Glory of the Rt. Honble. Sr. Robert Walpole (Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford)
by Paul Fourdrinier (Pierre), after F. Dumouchel, and after J. Faget
line engraving, 1730
NPG D39362
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1733
NPG D33120
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1733
NPG D19606
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D39365
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D39366
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D18696
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D16747
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by George Vertue, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
line engraving, 1748 (1744)
NPG D5417
by John Pine
line engraving, published 1749
NPG D11092
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
by James Watson, published by John Boydell, and published by Josiah Boydell, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
mezzotint, published 1 January 1788
NPG D39367
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Jonathan Richardson
stipple engraving, published 16 August 1800
NPG D5418
by Anthony Fogg, published by Edward Harding, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1803
NPG D39372
Related People
- Maria (née Walpole), Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (granddaughter)
- Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (son)
- George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (grandson)
- Horatio ('Horace') Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (son)
- Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (nephew)
- Dorothy Viscountess Townshend (sister)
- Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton (brother)
- Catherine Walpole (née Shorter), Lady Walpole (wife)
- Sir Edward Walpole (grandfather)
- Galfridus Walpole (brother)
- Thomas Walpole (nephew)
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