Sir John Barrow, 1st Bt

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Sir John Barrow, 1st Bt

by Unknown artist
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, circa 1795
1 3/4 in. x 1 3/8 in. (44 mm x 35 mm) oval
Given by the sitter's son, John Barrow, 1887
Primary Collection
NPG 769

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Unknown artist, Artist. Artist or producer associated with 6578 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 36
  • Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 83 Read entry

    John Barrow came from a more lowly background than Edgeworth but, after wide travels in China and South Africa with Lord Macartney, he entered the Admiralty in 1804 and served there for forty years as Second Secretary. Point Barrow, Cape Barrow and the Barrow Straits, all in the polar region, were named after him. The artist of this portrait is at present unknown. It was probably painted between Barrow's return from China in 1795 and his departure for South Africa in 1796. A possible candidate is William Alexander, who, with Barrow, accompanied Lord Macartney to China. He went as junior draughtsman and illustrated Barrow's Travels in China (1804), a colourful account of the Macartney embassy. Later in life he became the first keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum.

  • Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 26

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1795back to top

Current affairs

George, Prince of Wales is forced to marry Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick, despite having secretly married Maria Fitzherbert in 1785.
Widespread rioting prompts the introduction of the Speenhamland system of welfare supplements which are linked to the price of bread.
Treasonable Practices Act is passed against open criticism of government.

Art and science

The MP Matthew Gregory 'Monk' Lewis publishes his notorious gothic novel The Monk to success and scandal because of its immoral content.
Mungo Park explores the course of the River Niger.

International

Wolfe Tone, founder of The Society of United Irishmen, departs for America after being implicated in high treason in Ireland. Exiled in Philadelphia, he soon leaves for France to ask revolutionaries for assistance.
Joseph Haydn composes the English Canzonettas during his second stay in London.

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