George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
(1592-1628), Courtier; favourite of James ISitter associated with 49 portraits
Handsome and ambitious, Villiers was the most notorious of James I's favourites. From humble beginnings as cupbearer in the royal household, he rose with astonishing speed through the ranks of the aristocracy, becoming Duke of Buckingham in 1623. As one of the king's leading ministers, some of his administration was effective, but he was widely regarded as corrupt and extravagant. Villiers exercised great influence over both James I and his son Charles I, though was generally regarded with suspicion and dislike by the rest of the court, and as Lord High Admiral was blamed for a number of military failures. He was murdered by John Felton, a discharged officer of the navy in 1628.
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by studio of William Larkin
oil on canvas, circa 1616
On display in Room 3 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3840
Unknown man, formerly known as George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
attributed to Cornelius De Neve
oil on canvas, 1627
NPG 1346
The Duke of Buckingham and his Family
after Gerrit van Honthorst
oil on canvas, circa 1628, based on a work of 1628
NPG 711
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D25779
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 17th century
NPG D25780
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D16667
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Marshall, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1621-1628
NPG D1129
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Marshall, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1621-1628
NPG D1166
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, (circa 1625)
NPG D33052
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, (circa 1625)
NPG D33055
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, (circa 1625)
NPG D33056
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, (circa 1625)
NPG D18724
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Willem Jacobsz Delff, after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
engraving, published 1626
NPG D19862
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
sold by Benjamin Cole
line engraving, circa 1628
NPG D5812
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by A.P., after D.F.
line engraving, after 1628
NPG D16666
George Villiers and Robert Devereux
after Unknown artist
woodcut, 1641
NPG D26511
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Faithorne, after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, circa 1650s
NPG D22656
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
published by Balthasar Moncornet
line engraving, 1657
NPG D26517
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1657
NPG D16664
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1657
NPG D16665
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Walter Dolle, after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D33053
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Walter Dolle, after Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D33054
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Walter Dolle, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, 1672
NPG D26520
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Walter Dolle, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, 1672
NPG D26522
after Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1684
NPG D23930
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Jacobus Houbraken, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D26510
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D16668
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, 1713
NPG D26515
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, 1713
NPG D32193
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Jacobus Houbraken, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D25823
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D26514
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Jacobus Houbraken, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
engraving, 1730s
NPG D42871
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by W. Tringham
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D16670
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Jacobus Houbraken, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, late 1730s-early 1740s
NPG D32285
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Baillie, after Daniel Mytens
stipple engraving, published 1785
NPG D26512
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Baillie, after Daniel Mytens
etching, published 1785
NPG D32284
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Baillie, after Daniel Mytens
etching and stipple engraving, published 1785
NPG D19344
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Baillie, after Daniel Mytens
etching and stipple engraving, published 1785
NPG D16717
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Grainger, published by Alexander Hogg, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, and after Unknown artist
etching, published 31 January 1787
NPG D16641
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
published by William Richardson, after Martin Droeshout
line engraving, published 1810
NPG D26516
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Charles Turner, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D923
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Martin Droeshout, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1810
NPG D16669
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham Tomb in Westminster Abbey
by Black & Hopwood, published by Rudolph Ackermann, after Mackenzie
aquatint, published 1 August 1812
NPG D5190
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Charles Picart, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
stipple engraving, published 1815
NPG D26519
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by Charles Picart, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
stipple engraving, published 1815
NPG D32283
The assassination of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham by John Felton
by Richard Sawyer
etching, published 1822
NPG D26521
by William Greatbach, after George Perfect Harding
line engraving, probably mid 19th century
NPG D26130
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
after Unknown artist
photogravure, published 1902
NPG D41910
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Marshall, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1621-1628
NPG D20421
Related People
- Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey (brother)
- Katherine Villiers (née Manners, later MacDonnell), Duchess of Buckingham (wife)
- George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (son)
- John Villiers, Viscount Purbeck (brother)
- Mary Villiers, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (daughter)
- Lord Francis Villiers (son)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.