Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
(1750-1823), Lord ChancellorRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 69 portraits
Erskine was a lawyer and Whig politician who rose to prominence defending political radicals during the 1790s. He was Lord Chancellor in Grenville's coalition 'Ministry of All the Talents'. Erskine stood for free speech and a free press and is remembered primarily as one of the great advocates in English legal history. He rose to prominence defending political radicals in the 1790s, winning a notable victory against the State during the infamous Treason Trials of 1794. His best known client was Thomas Paine whom he defended unsuccessfully against a charge of seditious libel after the publication of his Rights of Man (1791). Erskine's last notable case was his defence of Queen Caroline at her divorce 'trial' in 1820.
by Anton Hickel
oil on canvas, 1793-1795
NPG 745
The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820
by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1820-1823
NPG 999
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by Sir William Charles Ross
oil on canvas, 1823
NPG 960
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by and published by John Jones, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1786
NPG D36200
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by and published by William Sharp, after Richard Cosway
line engraving, published 2 May 1791
NPG D15331
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 6 January 1795
NPG D12510
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 2 March 1795
NPG D12519
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 11 May 1795
NPG D12522
'The Crown and Anchor libel, burnt by the public hangman'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 28 November 1795
NPG D12550
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, soft-ground etching and engraving, published 30 April 1795
NPG D13083
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by G. Murray, published by Benjamin Crosby, after Isaac Cruikshank
line engraving, published 12 January 1795
NPG D15492
'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 October 1796
NPG D12579
The Budget or John Bull Frightned [Frightened] out of his wits
by Isaac Cruikshank, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 20 November 1796
NPG D47470
'The presentation - or - the wise men's offering'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 January 1796
NPG D12553
'The giant factotem amusing himself'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 21 January 1797
NPG D12593
'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D12592
'The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 February 1797
NPG D12598
'Midas, transmuting all, into paper'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 March 1797
NPG D12603
'Parliamentary-reform, - or - opposition-rats, leaving the house they had undermined'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 28 May 1797
NPG D12614
'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D15304
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine ('L'Avocat de la Republique')
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured aquatint, published 21 May 1798
NPG D12642
'Pigs meat; - or - the swine flogg'd out of the farm yard'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 22 June 1798
NPG D12654
'Nelson's Victory; - or - good-news operating upon loyal-feelings'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 3 October 1798
NPG D12659
'Stealing off; - or - prudent secession'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 6 November 1798
NPG D12665
'Meeting of the monied interest'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 13 December 1798
NPG D12672
'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
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine ('Councellor Ego - i.e. little I, myself I')
by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching, published 1 October 1798
NPG D12972
by James Gillray, published by John Wright
etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13093
by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13094
by Thomas Rowlandson, published by James Whittle
hand-coloured etching, published 1 February 1799
NPG D12677
'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 15 April 1799
NPG D13096
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
after Unknown artist
coloured etching, early 19th century
NPG D9304
'The worn-out patriot; - or - the last dying speech of the Westminster representative'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 13 October 1800
NPG D12742
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 21 January 1801
NPG D12754
'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1801
NPG D12769
'Introduction of Citizen Volpone and his suite, at Paris'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 15 November 1802
NPG D12794
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by George Clint, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1803
NPG D1861
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by George Clint, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1803
NPG D1862
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by George Clint, published by John Peter Thompson, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 4 June 1804
NPG D36198
'The state waggoner, and John Bull - or - the waggon too much for the donkeys!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 14 March 1804
NPG D12829
storming Heaven; - with, the gods alarmed for their everlasting-abodes'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 1 May 1804
NPG D13106
'L'assemblée nationale: - or - grand cooperation meeting at St Ann's Hill'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 18 June 1804
NPG D13107
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 7 August 1804
NPG D13108
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 10 March 1805
NPG D12841
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 22 April 1805
NPG D12842
'Political-candour; - i.e. - Coalition-"resolutions" of June 14th 1805. - pro bono publico'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 21 June 1805
NPG D12846
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 July 1805
NPG D12847
'End of the Irish farce of Catholic Emancipation'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 17 May 1805
NPG D13110
by Charles Williams, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published March 1806
NPG D47472
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by Charles Turner, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1806
NPG D1863
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 February 1806
NPG D12859
'Making-decent; - i.e. - Broad-Bottomites getting into the grand costume'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 20 February 1806
NPG D12860
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 5 March 1806
NPG D12861
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 14 March 1806
NPG D12862
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 5 April 1806
NPG D12863
'Westminster conscripts under the training act'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 September 1806
NPG D12872
'Political mathematician's, shaking the Broad Bottom'd hemispheres'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and engraving, published 9 January 1807
NPG D12884
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 23 February 1807
NPG D12885
'A kick at the Broad-Bottoms! - i.e. - emancipation of "All the Talents &c"'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 23 March 1807
NPG D12887
'The pigs possessed: - or - the Broad Bottom'd litter running headlong into ye sea of perdition'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 18 April 1807
NPG D12888
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