John Smith
© National Portrait Gallery, London
John Smith
attributed to Thomas Athow, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
watercolour, early 19th century
13 5/8 in. x 9 1/8 in. (345 mm x 232 mm)
Purchased, 1895
Reference Collection
NPG D23276
Sitterback to top
- John Smith (1655 or 1656-1723), Politician and Speaker of the House of Commons. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Thomas Athow (active 1806-1822), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 50 portraits.
- Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 1689 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.
Portrait setback to top
Events of 1803back to top
Current affairs
The Vice Society is formally established by John Reeves and his associates to campaign against blasphemy and immorality, particularly that perpetrated by Thomas Paine and the Edinburgh Review.Art and science
Erasmus Darwin's Temple of Nature published posthumously. A scientific treaty in the form of an elaborate couplet poem, its content anticipated some of the evolutionary ideas developed by his grandson, Charles Darwin, fifty years later.Construction of the Caledonian Canal begins.
International
War with France resumes, sparking new fears of a cross-channel invasion.United Irishman, Robert Emmett's attempted uprising in Dublin. Planned to coincide with Napoleon's expected invasion, it aimed to overthrow the English administration but ended in failure. Emmett is hanged along with several other conspirators.
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