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Benjamin Wilson

(1721-1788), Portrait painter and scientist

Sitter in 5 portraits
Artist associated with 44 portraits
Wilson was the son of a wealthy clothes manufacturer in York. After his father's business failed, Wilson moved to London, where he became a clerk and began to study painting. In the late 1740s, he lived in Dublin, where he had a successful career as a portrait painter. He returned to London and built up a lucrative portrait practice, which was probably patronised chiefly by Yorkshire men in London. In 1773, the Duke of York, appointed Wilson painter to the Board of Ordnance. A student of chemistry, Wilson developed a particular interest in exploring static electricity. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1751, and in 1760, he received the society's Copley medal for his electrical experiments.

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Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, by James Macardell, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D35320

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt

by James Macardell, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, circa 1750-1765
NPG D35320

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, by James Macardell, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D35321

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt

by James Macardell, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, circa 1750-1765
NPG D35321

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, by and sold by Richard Houston, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D39825

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

by and sold by Richard Houston, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, circa 1750-1775
NPG D39825

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, by James Macardell, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D3224

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt

by James Macardell, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, circa 1750-1765
NPG D3224

Robert Baldy, by Edward Fisher, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D588

Robert Baldy

by Edward Fisher, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, 1750s-1770s
NPG D588

Robert Baldy, by Edward Fisher, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D589

Robert Baldy

by Edward Fisher, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, 1750s-1770s
NPG D589

Robert Baldy, by Edward Fisher, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D590

Robert Baldy

by Edward Fisher, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, 1750s-1770s
NPG D590

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, by James Macardell, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D18776

Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt

by James Macardell, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, circa 1750-1765
NPG D18776

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