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Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

(1676-1745), Prime Minister

Early Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 27 portraits
In all but name, Robert Walpole was Britain’s first Prime Minister between 1721 and 1742. A Whig statesman, he came to power in the wake of the ‘South Sea Bubble’. This was a financial crash based on speculation in the South Sea Company, which traded enslaved Africans with the Spanish Americas. He built up British prosperity in the long period of peace that followed. Walpole lost money during the crisis yet these losses were balanced by his investment in another slaving company, the Royal African Company. He obtained more power than any previous minister and remained in office for over twenty years, resorting to bribery to overcome his lack of popularity. His power came to an end when he was drawn into an unsuccessful conflict with Spain, which became known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. He was made Earl of Orford in 1742 after his defeat in the House of Commons.

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Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3220

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1715
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3220

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by John Michael Rysbrack - NPG 2126

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by John Michael Rysbrack
terracotta bust, 1738
On display in Room 3 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2126

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by John Simon, after  Charles Jervas - NPG D3761

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by John Simon, after Charles Jervas
mezzotint, circa 1725
NPG D3761

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by Gerhard Bockman, after  Thomas Gibson - NPG D5420

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Gerhard Bockman, after Thomas Gibson
mezzotint, circa 1727-1742
NPG D5420

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by and published by John Simon, after  Hans Hysing - NPG D5724

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by and published by John Simon, after Hans Hysing
mezzotint, circa 1727-1742
NPG D5724

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, published by John Cooper, after  Unknown artist - NPG D5725

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

published by John Cooper, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1727-1729
NPG D5725

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by John Faber Jr, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D33120

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1733
NPG D33120

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by John Faber Jr, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D19606

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1733
NPG D19606

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Arthur Pond - NPG D39365

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D39365

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Arthur Pond - NPG D39366

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D39366

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Arthur Pond - NPG D18696

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D18696

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Arthur Pond - NPG D16747

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D16747

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by George Vertue, after  Christian Friedrich Zincke - NPG D5417

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by George Vertue, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
line engraving, 1748 (1744)
NPG D5417

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, by James Watson, published by  John Boydell, and published by  Josiah Boydell, after  Jean Baptiste van Loo - NPG D39367

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by James Watson, published by John Boydell, and published by Josiah Boydell, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
mezzotint, published 1 January 1788
NPG D39367

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Jonathan Richardson - NPG D5418

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Jonathan Richardson
stipple engraving, published 16 August 1800
NPG D5418

House of Commons, 1730, by Anthony Fogg, published by  Edward Harding, after  William Hogarth, and after  Sir James Thornhill - NPG D39372

House of Commons, 1730

by Anthony Fogg, published by Edward Harding, after William Hogarth, and after Sir James Thornhill
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1803
NPG D39372

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