✖

The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Search the Collection

John Thelwall

(1764-1834), Reformer and elocutionist

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 12 portraits
The radical political writer and orator John Thelwall was largely self-educated. In 1792, he co-founded the London Corresponding Society, which campaigned for political reform and he was one of the members who were tried for treason and acquitted in 1794. He responded to the trial with the publication of The Natural and Constitutional Right of Britons to Annual Parliaments, Universal Suffrage, and the Freedom of Popular Association, 1795. After the society was outlawed in 1799, Thelwall became an elocution teacher.

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

John Thelwall, attributed to John Hazlitt - NPG 2163

John Thelwall

attributed to John Hazlitt
oil on canvas, circa 1800-1805
NPG 2163

John Thelwall, by Henry James Richter - NPG D38540

John Thelwall

by Henry James Richter
stipple engraving, published 8 December 1794
NPG D38540

John Thelwall, by William Ridley - NPG D15640

John Thelwall

by William Ridley
stipple engraving, published circa 1794
NPG D15640

'Copenhagen house', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12546

'Copenhagen house'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 November 1795
NPG D12546

'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12579

'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 October 1796
NPG D12579

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12592

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D12592

'The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12598

'The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 February 1797
NPG D12598

'The delegates in council or beggars on horseback', by Isaac Cruikshank, published by Samuel William Fores - NPG D15627

'The delegates in council or beggars on horseback'

by Isaac Cruikshank, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 9 June 1797
NPG D15627

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite', by James Gillray, published by John Wright - NPG D13093

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13093

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite', by James Gillray, published by John Wright - NPG D13094

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13094

'A charm for a democracy, reviewed, analysed, & destroyed Jany 1st 1799 to the confusion of its affiliated friends', by Thomas Rowlandson, published by James Whittle - NPG D12677

'A charm for a democracy, reviewed, analysed, & destroyed Jany 1st 1799 to the confusion of its affiliated friends'

by Thomas Rowlandson, published by James Whittle
hand-coloured etching, published 1 February 1799
NPG D12677

Web image not currently available

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D15304

Category

Groups

Place

Links

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

What can you tell us?close

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citationclose

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Your Emailclose

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.