King George IV
(1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 274 portraits
George, Prince of Wales was given no official duties by his father King George III. Jockeying for power, he sought to undermine the King by siding with the Whig opposition led by Charles James Fox. When the King went temporarily insane in 1788 William Pitt, the Tory Prime Minister, proposed a restricted Regency to protect the King's interests. The King's recovery three months later ended the 'Regency Crisis'. The Regency Bill was revived during the King's final illness. George was sworn Regent in 1811 and crowned King in 1820. Vain, self-indulgent and debauched he was, however, a man of exceptional taste and style who is best remembered for his magnificent patronage of the arts.
by John ('HB') Doyle, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 26 November 1831
NPG D41103
by Henry Adlard, after Abraham Wivell
stipple engraving, published 1839
NPG D10845
by P. Thomas, published by Graves & Warmsley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mixed-method engraving, published 1841
NPG D33349
by P. Thomas, published by Graves & Warmsley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mixed-method engraving, published 1841
NPG D33350
by Benedetto Pistrucci
gutta-percha medal, 1849
NPG D7214
published by William Heinemann, after Sir William Beechey
photogravure, late 19th or early 20th century (1798)
NPG D33329
King George IV when Prince of Wales
by Henry Herschel Hay Cameron (later The Cameron Studio), after Thomas Gainsborough
photograph of painting, 1891 (1782)
NPG D33331
published by John Player & Sons, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
colour relief halftone cigarette card, 1935
NPG D48152
possibly by James Heath, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, (1788-1789?)
NPG D19442
by and published by Samuel William Reynolds
mezzotint, published 24 October 1821
NPG D20068
by Charles Turner, published by Hurst, Robinson & Co, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1 January 1824
NPG D19927
by William Say, published by William Sams, after Frederick Richard Say
mezzotint, published May 1827
NPG D20039
Related People
- Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge (brother)
- Princess Amelia (sister)
- Princess Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (wife)
- Charlotte Augusta Matilda, Princess Royal (sister)
- Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (daughter)
- Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (mother)
- Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg (sister)
- Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (brother)
- Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe) (wife)
- Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (brother)
- King George III (father)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (brother)
- Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester (sister)
- Prince Octavius (brother)
- Princess Augusta Sophia (sister)
- Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (brother)
- King William IV (brother)
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