George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
(1758-1834), First Lord of the AdmiraltyRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 31 portraits
As First Lord of the Admiralty, 1794-1801, Spencer's reforms to the administration of the Navy laid the foundations for British victories at sea. He singled out Nelson and sent him to win the Battle of the Nile. Spencer resigned office with Pitt in 1801, re-entering the government in 1806 as Home Secretary. His book collection forms the nucleus of the Rylands Library at Manchester.
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by John Singleton Copley
oil on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1800
NPG 1487
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1818
NPG 316a(116)
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Nathaniel Marchant
stipple engraving, 1792
NPG D6825
'A Spencer and a thread-paper'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 17 May 1792
NPG D12454
'Integrity retiring from office!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 February 1801
NPG D12756
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Robert Cribb, after John Hoppner
mezzotint, published 1 March 1802
NPG D42001
'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
'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
'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
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Henry Bone, after John Hoppner
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, (circa 1807-1808)
NPG D17761
'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
'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
'Broad-bottom drones storming the hive - wasps, hornets & bumble bees, joining in the attack'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 2 May 1808
NPG D12906
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 22 March 1808
NPG D13115
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after John Wright, after John Hoppner
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1809 (circa 1807-1808)
NPG D42000
'An old English-gentleman pester'd by servants wanting places'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 May 1809
NPG D12922
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after John Wright, after John Hoppner
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1809 (circa 1807-1808)
NPG D14670
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Henry Bone, after John Hoppner
pencil, pen and ink, 1810 (circa 1807-1808)
NPG D17632
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Henry Meyer, published by Robert Cribb & Son, after John Hoppner
mezzotint, published 4 June 1812 (circa 1807-1808)
NPG D9147
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by John Henry Robinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1822 (1774-1776)
NPG D14671
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by William Derby, after Thomas Phillips
pencil, circa 1835-1842 (1817)
NPG D23081
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
by Henry Meyer, after John Hoppner
mezzotint, published 1812 (circa 1807-1808)
NPG D4280
Related People
- Henrietta Frances ('Harriet') Ponsonby (née Spencer), Countess of Bessborough (sister)
- John William Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough (nephew)
- Georgiana Dorothy (née Cavendish), Countess of Carlisle (niece)
- William Ponsonby, 1st Baron de Mauley (nephew)
- Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (sister)
- William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (nephew)
- Henrietta Elizabeth ('Harriet') Leveson-Gower (née Cavendish), Countess Granville (niece)
- Lady Caroline Lamb (niece)
- George William Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton (grandson)
- Sarah Lyttelton (née Spencer), Lady Lyttelton (daughter)
- Hon. Spencer Lyttelton (grandson)
- Sir Frederic Cavendish Ponsonby (nephew)
- John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (father)
- (Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer (mother)
- Lavinia Spencer (née Bingham), Countess Spencer (wife)
- John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer (son)
- Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer (son)
- John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer (grandson)
- Charles Robert Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer (grandson)
- Lady Sarah Isabella Spencer (granddaughter)
- Sir Robert Cavendish Spencer (son)
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