John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
1 portrait of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
© National Portrait Gallery, London
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Arnold van Westerhout
line engraving, 1721
12 3/8 in. x 8 1/2 in. (314 mm x 215 mm) plate size; 15 1/4 in. x 11 3/8 in. (388 mm x 290 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D16658
Sitterback to top
- John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), Soldier and statesman. Sitter associated with 86 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1721back to top
Current affairs
Robert Walpole becomes the first British Prime Minister and holds the post for an unrivalled tenure of twenty-one years.Former Chancellor of the Exchequer John Aislabie is imprisoned in the Tower of London and found guilty of corruption for his part in the collapse of the South Sea Company.
Art and science
Artist William Hogarth produces his first satirical engraving The South Sea Scheme in response to the South Sea Bubble of the previous year.Writer and diplomat's wife, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduces the smallpox inoculation to Britain. The Princess of Wales is persuaded to test the treatment and the procedure becomes fashionable.
International
Johann Sebastian Bach writes the six Brandenburg Concertos for his employer at the court of Köthen.Montesquieu completes his best-selling Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters); a critical view of contemporary western politics, religion and society.
Treaty of Nystad in which Sweden cedes Estonia to Russia with most of Latvia. Russia becomes the dominant regional power and Peter the Great has himself proclaimed 'Emperor of all Russia'.
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