William Cobbett

1 portrait by John Raphael Smith

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Cobbett

by John Raphael Smith
chalk, engraved 1812
25 in. x 18 in. (635 mm x 457 mm)
Purchased, 2009
Primary Collection
NPG 6870

Sitterback to top

  • William Cobbett (1763-1835), Journalist, agriculturalist and politician; MP for Oldham. Sitter associated with 57 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • John Raphael Smith (1752-1812), Portrait painter, engraver and pastellist. Artist or producer associated with 192 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This drawing is believed to have been produced while Cobbett was in Newgate prison. It shows him in a study surrounded by books, including works by Horne Tooke and Thomas Paine, with a copy of the Political Register on a side table. A portrait of John Hampden, a sevententh-century advocate of Parliamentary democracy, hangs on a wall behind him.

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1812back to top

Current affairs

Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons by a bankrupt named John Bellingham. A new administration is formed under Lord Liverpool.
The Toleration Act is passed giving greater freedom of worship to dissenters in order to ensure their political loyalty.

Art and science

Actress Sarah Siddons retires from the London stage. Her final appearance is as Lady Macbeth, the role that made her famous, but the performance has to end after the sleepwalking scene because of the fervour of the audience.
Building of Regent's Canal begins under John Rennie.

International

United States declares war on Britain over grievances arising from British naval conduct in the French wars. American plan for attack on Canada fails and British troops under Sir Edward Pakenham force surrender of Detroit.
Wellington defeats French at Salamanca and enters Madrid.
Napoleon leads France in disastrous Russian campaign.

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