Samuel Whitbread the Elder
(1720-1796), Brewer and politicianSitter in 6 portraits
Samuel Whitbread was born in Bedfordshire. He left for London at the age of fourteen and became an apprentice to a London brewer, John Witman. In 1742, he went into partnership with Thomas Shewell, who owned a small brewery. By 1760, it had become the second largest brewery in London and five years later Whitbread bought out Shewell's share of the business. By the end of the century, Whitbread's brewery was London's biggest producer of beer, producing 202,000 barrels in 1796. Whitbread was an MP from 1768 until his death. His son was the politician, Samuel Whitbread.
by Henry Bone, after Sir William Beechey
enamel on copper, 1796
NPG 6603
'The v[ictualling] committee framing a report'
by James Gillray
etching, published 12 August 1782
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by Henry Bone, after Sir William Beechey
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, 1795 (1790-1795)
NPG D17545
by William Ward, published by George Garrard, after Sir William Beechey
mezzotint, published 11 June 1797
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by and published by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1 January 1803 (1786-1787)
NPG D37562
by and published by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1 January 1803 (1786-1787)
NPG D19792
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