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The Siege of Gibraltar, 1782

1 portrait of George Gledstone

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The Siege of Gibraltar, 1782

by George Carter
gouache on millboard, 1784
16 1/2 in. x 22 in. (419 mm x 559 mm)
Given by Alfred Jones, 1914
Primary Collection
NPG 1752

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  • George Carter (1737-1794), Artist. Artist associated with 2 portraits.

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This portraitback to top

Soon after entering the War of Independence on the side of the colonists, the Spanish and French attacked Gibraltar. Their long siege began in July 1779 and was not finally broken until soon after the event shown here: the firing and sinking of the floating Spanish batteries on 14 September 1782. General Eliott, afterwards Lord Heathfield, the Governor of Gibraltar, is seen receiving news of the victory from his aide-de-camp, Major Valloton. This work is a sketch for the large picture at the National Army Museum.

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Events of 1784back to top

Current affairs

Theatre proprietor and postal reformer John Palmer runs the first mail coach in England, between Bristol and London. A three day journey is now completed in 16 hours.
Commutation Act reduces punitive duties on tea to combat smuggling.

Art and science

Aeronaut James Sadler makes the first hot air balloon flight in Britain, from Oxford to Woodeaton.
Chemist Henry Cavendish's paper Experiments on Air reveals the composition of water.
Writer Samuel Johnson dies.
Joshua Reynolds succeeds Allan Ramsay as Painter to the King.

International

Thomas Jefferson's Land Ordinance passed by the United States' Continental Congress, coming into effect the following year. It allows for the sale of land in the largely unmapped west of the country.
Britain receives its first bales of cotton from the United States since before the War of American Independence.
William Pitt's India Act creates a Board of Control to oversee the affairs of the British East India Company and centralise power.

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