William Beckford
(1709-1770), Owner of enslaved people; politicianMid-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.
by John Kirk
bronze medal, 1770
NPG 5758
by William Hogarth
etching and engraving, published 1762
NPG D21366
by John Dixon
mezzotint, published 1769
NPG D31606
William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend
by Richard Houston, published by John Smith of Cheapside, and published by Robert Sayer
mezzotint, published 29 September 1769
NPG D39268
after Unknown artist
mezzotint, 1769 or after
NPG D675
William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend
by Richard Houston, published by John Smith of Cheapside, and published by Robert Sayer
mezzotint, published 29 September 1769
NPG D19402
William Beckford; John Sawbridge; James Townsend
by Richard Houston
mezzotint, published 1769
NPG D679
by Unknown artist
line engraving, 1770 or after
NPG D42240
by John Dixon
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D676
by John Dixon
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D677
by John Dixon
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D678
by John Dixon, printed for Carington Bowles
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D19348
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 19 April 1798
NPG D42241
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 19 April 1798
NPG D42242
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes, after Agostino Carlini
stipple engraving, published 19 April 1798
NPG D14113
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