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Henry Bilson Legge

1 of 2 portraits by Johson

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Henry Bilson Legge

by Johson, published by Thomas Ewart, after William Hoare
mezzotint, 1754 or after (circa 1754)
8 in. x 5 1/4 in. (204 mm x 133 mm) plate size; 9 7/8 in. x 7 in. (252 mm x 178 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D5050

Sitterback to top

  • Henry Bilson Legge (1708-1764), Whig politician; Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sitter in 8 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • Thomas Ewart (active 1745-circa 1781), Printer and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 2 portraits.
  • William Hoare (1707-1792), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 74 portraits, Sitter in 6 portraits.
  • Johson (active 1763-1770), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 2 portraits.

Placesback to top

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1754back to top

Current affairs

Death of the Prime Minister Henry Pelham. He is succeeded by his brother Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle.
General election increases the Whig party's majority

Art and science

Scottish chemist Joseph Black identifies carbon dioxide.
Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (Society of Arts) is established in London.
Designer and cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale publishes his first catalogue of furniture.
Philosopher David Hume's expansive and best-selling six-volume History of Great Britain begins publication.

International

Albany Congress: the British colonies negotiate with the native-American Iroquois in the face of the French threat in the Ohio valley. Benjamin Franklin proposes that the colonies should unite to form a colonial government. The pro-union woodcut he publishes of a snake cut into eight pieces, entitled 'Join or Die', becomes America's first political cartoon.
George Washington kills ten French troops at Fort Duquesne.

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