Sir Francis Buller, 1st Bt
(1746-1800), JudgeMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 7 portraits
Buller was called to the Bar in 1772 and rapidly acquired an extensive legal practice, acting in many important cases. He became the youngest ever High Court Judge in 1778 at the age of thirty-two. William Pitt made him a baronet in 1790 and in 1794 he transferred to the court of Common Pleas, dealing with civil actions, where he served until his death. His assertion that a husband could thrash his wife with impunity provided that the stick was no thicker than his thumb, led cartoonist Gillray to caricature him as 'Judge Thumb'.
by Mather Brown
oil on canvas, 1792
NPG 458
Possibly Sir Francis Buller, 1st Bt
by Unknown artist
wash drawing, late 18th century
NPG D9036
Sir Francis Buller, 1st Bt ('Judge Thumb')
by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 27 November 1782
NPG D12316
'Andrew Robinson Bowes Esqr. as he appeared in the Court of Kings Bench'
by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth Jackson
etching, published 2 December 1786
NPG D21647
'Andrew Robinson Bowes Esqr. as he appeared in the Court of Kings Bench'
by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth Jackson
hand-coloured etching, published 2 December 1786
NPG D12353
'Evidence to character; - being a portrait of a traitor, by his friends & by himself'
by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching, published 1 October 1798
NPG D12674
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Mather Brown
stipple engraving, published 1823
NPG D13739
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