Richard England ('A general view of Old England')

1 portrait of Richard England

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Richard England ('A general view of Old England')

by and published by Robert Dighton
hand-coloured etching, published September 1808
12 3/8 in. x 10 1/8 in. (315 mm x 258 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1884
Reference Collection
NPG D10869

Sitterback to top

  • Richard England (circa 1750-1812), Lieutenant-General. Sitter in 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Robert Dighton (1751-1814), Portrait painter, caricaturist and actor. Artist or producer associated with 320 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Richard England is depicted in the uniform of a Lieutenant-General, a rank he had held since 1803. A related drawing in the Royal Collection, but depicting England standing, seems to have served as the basis of this etching. The drawing is inscribed 'A General View of Old England taken from the Citadel at Plymouth'. The citadel, a fort begun in the reign of Charles II, was the military headquarters of Plymouth. Richard England had been appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Plymouth in 1803.

Placesback to top

Events of 1808back to top

Current affairs

The 'Mary Anne Clarke affair' erupts in which Clarke, mistress of Frederick, Duke of York, was said to have used her influence with him to run a military promotions racket. Championed by radical government opponents, it ends in the Duke's resignation as Commander-in-Chief of the army.

Art and science

Sculptor John Flaxman begins Nelson memorial for St Paul's.
Richard Trevithick demonstrates model railway travelling at 12 mph.

International

After taking Portugal, Napoleon invades Spain, deposes the Spanish Bourbon monarchy and appoints his brother Joseph as the new King. The
Peninsular War then begins under Sir John Moore and Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, aiming to protect Portugal and exploit Iberian hatred of French tyranny.

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Kerry Abel

18 April 2019, 15:23

The sitter, Richard G. England, is well known in Canadian history. He is the subject of a biography in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography (citation below).