'The Bulstrode siren' (William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland; Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel))

published by John Miller, published by William Blackwood, after James Gillray
etching, published 1818 (1803)
11 7/8 in. x 8 3/4 in. (303 mm x 222 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D34318

Sittersback to top

Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel) (1765-1818), Singer. Sitter in 11 portraits.
William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1809), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 32 portraits.

Artistsback to top

William Blackwood (1776-1834), Bookseller and publisher. Artist associated with 4 portraits.
James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist associated with 881 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
John Miller (active 1818-1834), Print publisher. Artist associated with 5 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG D34317: 'The Bulstrode siren' (William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland; Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel)) (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (Bridge Street, London; Edinburgh)

Portrait setback to top

Macdonnell Collection

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1818back to top

Current affairs

Death of Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, George III's Queen since 1761.
Official enquiry initiated into Queen Caroline's conduct abroad.

Art and science

Mary Shelley anonymously publishes her masterpiece Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus which reflects growing concern about the role of morality in science.
Lord Byron completes his romance Childe Harolde's Pilgrimage, whose gloomy, dissolute hero was probably based on the writer himself.

International

Stamford Raffles acquires authorisation to construct a fort at Singapore marking the beginning of its development as a centre of East-West trade.
Congress of European Alliance at Aix-La-Chapelle. Lord Castlereagh plays a central role in establishing a pan-Europe peace settlement to bring a chastened France back into the world of political respectability.

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