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George Anson, 1st Baron Anson

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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George Anson, 1st Baron Anson

after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1755-1810, based on a work of 1755
50 in. x 40 in. (1270 mm x 1016 mm)
Transferred from British Museum, 1879
Primary Collection
NPG 518

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 1414 portraits, Sitter associated with 39 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The painting is a copy of a lost portrait by Reynolds, begun in 1754 with further sittings on 21 and 23 February 1755, and apparently finished that June. The original was painted for one of the officers of Anson's ship, the 'Centurion', Sir Peircy Brett or Sir Charles Saunders. Anson is portrayed in flag officer's full dress uniform of 1748-67. More detailed information on this portrait is available in a National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue, John Kerslake's Early Georgian Portraits (1977, out of print).

Linked publicationsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1755back to top

Current affairs

George Grenville resigns as Treasurer of the Navy and Henry Bilson Legge as Chancellor of the Exchequer in protest over payments made to Russia to protect Hanover. William Pitt the Elder is dismissed from the position of Paymaster of the Forces.

Art and science

Samuel Johnson publishes his monumental Dictionary; the first authoritative dictionary of the English language.
Methodist preacher John Wesley publishes Notes on a New Testament.

International

An earthquake nearly completely destroys Lisbon, Portugal. The event is widely discussed by European Enlightenment thinkers, inspiring Voltaire's Candide. Its intensive study leads to the birth of modern seismology and earthquake engineering.
Edward Braddock fights French and Indian troops in the Ohio valley. His army are ambushed at Fort Duquesne and he is killed; one of several encounters prior to the declaration of the Seven Years War.

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