William Godwin

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Godwin

by and published by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 4 October 1802 (1802)
18 in. x 13 3/8 in. (457 mm x 340 mm) plate size; 20 1/2 in. x 14 in. (522 mm x 356 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D8414

Sitterback to top

  • William Godwin (1756-1836), Philosopher and novelist. Sitter in 13 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • George Dawe (1781-1829), History and portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 45 portraits.
  • James Northcote (1746-1831), Painter; pupil and biographer of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Artist or producer associated with 104 portraits, Sitter associated with 23 portraits.

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Events of 1802back to top

Current affairs

After returning from Naples, Nelson tours England with the diplomat and antiquarian Sir William Hamilton and his wife Emma, with whom he was having an affair. With Nelson's status confirmed as a national hero, their reception outrivals that of the King.
Extensive strikes in government shipyards led by John Gast.

Art and science

Francis Jeffrey, MP and arbiter of literary taste, co-founds the Edinburgh Review, the influential Whig quarterly which voiced strong criticism of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey.
The Exchange, where stocks were traded, is rebuilt to cope with an increase in business during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

International

Peace of Amiens; Britain finally agrees to unpopular peace, leaving France the chief power in Europe and returning recent British colonial acquisitions.
Napoleon is declared First Consul of the French Empire for life.
English flock to see the international war plunder now on display at the Louvre in Paris.

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