William Gifford
(1756-1826), First editor of the Quarterly ReviewRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 3 portraits
William Gifford was a satirical poet and classical scholar. As a young man Gifford became known to Lord Grosvenor, who became his patron. He produced several satirical poems including The Baviad (1794) and The Maeviad (1795), which established his reputation as a keen, even ferocious critic. In 1797 Gifford was appointed editor of the weekly journal The Anti-Jacobin, started by George Canning. He then became the first editor of the Tory Quarterly Review, a post that he held from 1809 until 1824.
replica by John Hoppner
oil on canvas, circa 1800
NPG 1017
by William Ridley, published by Vernor & Hood, after John Hoppner
stipple engraving, published 30 September 1802
NPG D13980
by Henry Meyer, after John Hoppner
stipple engraving, published 1818
NPG D13690
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Kerry Davies
08 April 2021, 18:58
Some say that Anna Davies was married to Gifford, but this was not true. Gifford met Anna (my great great grandfather's sister) when he was tutor to Lord Grosvenor's son at LG's Cheshire residence - she was employed by LG too. When Gifford moved to London, Anna went with him as his housekeeper. I have an etching of Anna by Hoppner, with a verse in Latin inscribed by Gifford. This picture has been passed down through the generations of my family to me. It's clear from all that he wrote that Gifford loved Anna and is heart-broken at her death. When Gifford died, he left £3000 to Anna's relatives, and this enabled my great great grandfather Thomas Davies to start the well-known Frodsham, Cheshire, firm of builders. Davies's became a prominent Frodsham family, as builders, council members, army and nursing staff in WW2, etc