8 OF 32

Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Bt

8 of 32 portraits by James Fittler

by James Fittler, after John Hoppner
line engraving, published 1788
15 5/8 in. x 10 5/8 in. (398 mm x 269 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D39761

Sitterback to top

Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Bt (1745-1813), Politician; MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Sitter in 2 portraits.

Artistsback to top

James Fittler (1758-1835), Engraver. Artist associated with 32 portraits.
John Hoppner (1758-1810), Painter. Artist associated with 213 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1788back to top

Current affairs

Parliament begins an investigation into the slave trade, led by reformers Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce.
Regency Crisis; George III's madness is announced provoking a political storm.
Former Governor-General of Bengal Warren Hastings' trial begins before the House of Lords.
Henry Benedict Stuart becomes the new Stuart claimant to the British throne.

Art and science

Artist Thomas Gainsborough dies.
First edition of The Times newspaper is published in London.
Scottish engineer and inventor William Symington demonstrates the first paddle steamer on Dalswinton Loch near Dumfries.
Robert Burns writes his version of the Scots poem Auld Lang Syne.

International

Ministers of the French King, Louis XVI, reluctantly announce that the Estates General will meet the following year, for the first time since 1614.
United States constitution comes into force when New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify it.
First Fleet reaches Australia, anchoring in Botany Bay. Arthur Phillip, selecting a suitable site for the first Australian penal colony, names the place Sydney Cove.

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