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William Beckford

(1709-1770), Owner of enslaved people; politician

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 15 portraits
Born in Jamaica, William Beckford's family had the largest sugar fortune in the West Indies. He was sent to England at the age of fourteen to be educated and after studying at Oxford, studied medicine at the University of Leiden. The sudden death of his father in 1735 forced him to return to Jamaica to run the family sugar plantations. Inventories show he owned 13 sugar plantations and approximately 3,000 enslaved people. On returning to England, he entered politics, becoming Lord Mayor of London in 1762. A radical reformer, he supported William Pitt.

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William Beckford, by John Kirk - NPG 5758William Beckford
by John Kirk
NPG 5758
'The Times', Plate 1, by William Hogarth - NPG D21366'The Times', Plate 1
by William Hogarth
NPG D21366
William Beckford, by John Dixon - NPG D31606William Beckford
by John Dixon
NPG D31606
William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend, by Richard Houston, published by John Smith of Cheapside, and published by Robert Sayer - NPG D39268William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend
by Richard Houston, published by John Smith of Cheapside, and published by Robert Sayer
NPG D39268
William Beckford, after Unknown artist - NPG D675William Beckford
after Unknown artist
NPG D675
William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend, by Richard Houston, published by John Smith of Cheapside, and published by Robert Sayer - NPG D19402William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend
by Richard Houston, published by John Smith of Cheapside, and published by Robert Sayer
NPG D19402
William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend, by Richard Houston - NPG D679William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend
by Richard Houston
NPG D679
William Beckford, by Unknown artist - NPG D42240William Beckford
by Unknown artist
NPG D42240
William Beckford, by John Dixon - NPG D676William Beckford
by John Dixon
NPG D676
William Beckford, by John Dixon - NPG D677William Beckford
by John Dixon
NPG D677
William Beckford, by John Dixon - NPG D678William Beckford
by John Dixon
NPG D678
William Beckford, by John Dixon, printed for Carington Bowles - NPG D19348William Beckford
by John Dixon, printed for Carington Bowles
NPG D19348
William Beckford, by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes - NPG D42241William Beckford
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
NPG D42241
William Beckford, by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes - NPG D42242William Beckford
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
NPG D42242
William Beckford, by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes, after Agostino Carlini - NPG D14113William Beckford
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes, after Agostino Carlini
NPG D14113

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