John Ashton when a child

1 portrait of John Ashton

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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John Ashton when a child

by William Pether, after Joseph Wright
mezzotint, published 1770
Reference Collection
NPG D7409

Sitterback to top

  • John Ashton, Son of Nicholas Ashton of Liverpool. Sitter in 1 portrait.

Artistsback to top

  • William Pether (1739-1821), Mezzotint engraver and painter. Artist or producer associated with 20 portraits.
  • Joseph Wright (1734-1797), Painter, known as 'Wright of Derby'. Artist or producer associated with 18 portraits, Sitter associated with 5 portraits.

Events of 1770back to top

Current affairs

Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton resigns as Prime Minister and is succeeded by Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford.

Art and science

Oliver Goldsmith publishes his poem The Deserted Village.
Philosopher and politician Edmund Burke publishes Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents discussing the limits of the King's authority.
17-year-old Thomas Chatterton, later hailed as a significant poet, commits suicide in a London garret.
Thomas Gainsborough paints his portrait of Jonathan Buttall, which later becomes known as The Blue Boy.

International

'Townshend duties' on imports into the colonies are repealed, except for the duty on tea. However, this concession is soon followed by the Boston Massacre, in which British troops fire into an unruly crowd in Boston, killing five.
Captain Cook reaches the eastern coast of Australia, at a place which he names Botany Bay. He discovers the Great Barrier Reef when HMS Endeavour runs onto it. Cook claims New South Wales for the British.

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