The Sapient Septemviri (The Seven Professors of King's College, Aberdeen)

1 portrait of Thomas Gordon

Identify sitters

by John Kay, after Mr Ross
etching, 1786
5 7/8 in. x 7 1/4 in. (150 mm x 184 mm) plate size; 8 in. x 10 3/8 in. (203 mm x 262 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D32330

Artistsback to top

John Kay (1742-1826), Miniature painter and caricaturist. Artist associated with 288 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.
Mr Ross (active 1786). Artist associated with 2 portraits.

Sittersback to top

John Chalmers (died 1800), Principal of King's College, Aberdeen. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify
William Chalmers (1746-1792), Professor of Medicine. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify
Alexander Gerard (1728-1795), Professor of Divinity. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify
Thomas Gordon (circa 1714-1797), Professor of Philosophy. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify
John Leslie (circa 1721-1790), Professor of Greek Language. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify
Roderick Macleod (circa 1727-1815), Sub-Principal of King's College, Aberdeen. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify
Skene Ogilvy (active late 18th-early 19th century), Minister. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify
William Thom (died 1795), Advocate and Professor of Civil Law. Sitter associated with 1 portrait. Identify

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: Scotland, Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Portrait setback to top

John Kay etchings, 1784-1818

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1786back to top

Current affairs

Philosopher and politician Edmund Burke instigates impeachment proceedings against Warren Hastings, former Governor-General of Bengal after concerns about the moral standards of the British in India are raised.
Prime Minister William Pitt appoints commissioners for the reduction of the national debt and establishes a sinking fund of £1 million a year.
Government approves the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay.

Art and science

Robert Burns publishes Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect bringing him immediate success across the country.
Engraver and publisher John Boydell initiates plans for his Shakespeare Gallery in an effort to establish a school of British history painting.
Merchant David Dale establishes New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, as a model cotton milling community.

International

General Charles Cornwallis succeeds Warren Hastings as Governor-General in India.
Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Marriage of Figaro premieres in Vienna.
Francisco Goya is appointed court painter to the Spanish king Charles III.

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