Robert Dighton - The Thief

In 1806 it was discovered that Robert Dighton had been stealing prints from the British Museum since 1798.
The revelation came when financial difficulties forced Dighton to sell some of his stolen stock. William Beloe (1756-1817), Keeper of Printed Books at the Museum, was dismissed upon the discovery. Joseph Farington (1747-1821), artist and diarist, recounts the event:

'The Revd. Mr Beloe the Librarian allowed [him] to come when He pleased & to remain in the room alone, & He was accustomed to carry a Portfolio thither under pretence of comparing other prints with those in that Collection, - & thus carried away a great number. - He had been in the habit of sending presents to Beloe, viz: geese, fowls, fish, peas at a guinea a quart &c. - Beloe was examined and his defense did Him harm. He disclaimed any knowledge of the value of the prints, indeed said He knew nothing about them. - He acknowledged the presents excepting the peas.'

Dighton, somehow, seems to have escaped punishment but events undoubtedly contributed to him seeking employment elsewhere. Tradition states that he was invited to Oxford by Mr Hall of the Swan Brewery, Dr Grosvenor and Sir William Elias Taunton in order to draw a portrait of John Ireland. Etchings by Dighton of all four men exist; that of Mr Hall is displayed here. Many etched portraits from Oxford, Bath and Cambridge were to follow.

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All images and text are subject to copyright protection. 06 October 2008