King John

by George Vertue
line engraving, 1733
11 3/8 in. x 7 1/2 in. (288 mm x 192 mm) plate size; 12 1/4 in. x 8 7/8 in. (311 mm x 225 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D42230

Sitterback to top

King John (1167-1216), Reigned 1199-1216. Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

Artistback to top

George Vertue (1683-1756), Engraver and antiquary. Artist associated with 864 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.

Portrait setback to top

Macdonnell Collection

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1733back to top

Current affairs

Prime Minister Robert Walpole narrowly escapes defeat in the House of Lords over the investigation into the South Sea affair. His Excise scheme, introduced the previous year, also provokes widespread resistance among merchants and is withdrawn.
Sugar and Molasses Act is passed by Parliament to tax British colonists in North America.

Art and science

John Kay, working in the Lancashire woollen industry, patents the flying shuttle to speed up weaving.
Poet Alexander Pope publishes his philosophical Essay on Man, which proposes a system of ethics in poetic form.
Clergyman Stephen Hales publishes the second volume of his Statical Essays, Haemastaticks, describing the measurement of the 'force of the blood', later known as blood pressure.

International

Philip V of Spain and Louis XV of France sign the Treaty of Escurial and form an alliance against Britain.
Voltaire publishes Letters on the English Nation comparing France unfavourably with England.
British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia.

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