William Robertson

1 portrait by T. Bradford

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Robertson

by John Dixon, published by John Boydell, and Samuel Hooper, and T. Bradford, and Thomas Burford, and John Dixon, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1 December 1772 (1772)
20 in. x 14 in. (508 mm x 355 mm) plate size; 20 3/8 in. x 14 3/8 in. (516 mm x 364 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1868
Reference Collection
NPG D39793

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • John Boydell (1720-1804), Engraver and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 132 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
  • T. Bradford (active 1771-1772), Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 3 portraits.
  • Thomas Burford (circa 1710-circa 1776), Printseller. Artist or producer associated with 16 portraits.
  • John Dixon (circa 1740-1811), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 47 portraits.
  • Samuel Hooper (active 1771-1788), Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 5 portraits.
  • Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1425 portraits, Sitter associated with 40 portraits.

Placesback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1772back to top

Current affairs

Somersett's Case: William Murrary, 1st Earl of Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice, rules that slaves could not be taken out of their country against their will after the case of American slave John Somersett is brought before him.
Royal Marriages Act requires the monarch's consent for the marriage of all members of the royal family.

Art and science

Chemist Daniel Rutherford demonstrates his method for isolating nitrogen from other gases.
Inventor James Watt produces the first micrometer to simply and accurately measure small distances. It is to prove crucial in the development of early machinery.
Britain's first trunk canal, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, opens for business.

International

Swiss pastor Johann Kaspar Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy revive the study of character through outward appearance.
Captain James Cook sets off, aboard HMS Resolution, on his second Pacific voyage.
First partition of Poland marks the start of Poland's disappearance as an independent state.

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