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Sir William Chambers

7 of 1337 portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds

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Sir William Chambers

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1756
35 in. x 27 in. (889 mm x 686 mm)
Purchased, 1858
Primary Collection
NPG 27

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

This portrait is by Reynolds, who was also a founding member of the Royal Academy and its first President.

Linked publicationsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1756back to top

Current affairs

Government falls after criticism of its handling of the Seven Years War. Prime Minister Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle is succeeded by William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, who forms a ministry effectively run by William Pitt the Elder.

Art and science

Satiristist Thomas Rowlandson is born in Old Jewry in the City of London. His main rival James Gillray is born exactly a month later in Chelsea.
Completion of William Edwards' Old Bridge, Pontypridd; the longest single span bridge in Britain for the next forty years.

International

'Black Hole of Calcutta': a group of British prisoners, including East India Company servant John Zephaniah Holwell, are locked in a small, overcrowded dungeon overnight when Fort William in Calcutta is captured by troops of the Nawab of Bengal. Holwell claims 123 of the 146 prisoners died.
Outbreak of the Seven Years War in which Britain, Hanover, Prussia and Denmark are pitted against France, Austria, Russia and Sweden.

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