James Hodgson
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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James Hodgson
by George White, after Thomas Gibson
mezzotint, circa 1720
13 3/8 in. x 9 3/8 in. (340 mm x 239 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D3042
Sitterback to top
- James Hodgson (1678-1755), Mathematical master at Christ's Hospital. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Thomas Gibson (circa 1680-1751), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 62 portraits.
- George White (circa 1684-1732), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 121 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Hodgson is shown with an armillary sphere, chart and cross staff (a navigational instrument used to measure the distance between stars and the horizon).
Events of 1720back to top
Current affairs
Collapse of the South Sea Company's shares causes financial crisis in London and ruins many investors. Their rapid inflation and the speculation mania it had encouraged become known as the South Sea Bubble. Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend returns to the Whig ministry. Robert Walpole 1st Earl of Orford, who had resigned in 1717, also returns and restores public credit in December.Art and science
Entrepreneur Ralph Allen is appointed to take over the Cross and Bye Posts, which manage mail not going via London, leading to his eventual reform of the entire British postal system.History painter James Thornhill is appointed Serjeant Painter to the King and becomes the first British artist to receive a knighthood.
International
Treaty of the Hague signed between Britain, France, Austria, the Dutch Republic and Spain ending the War of the Quadruple Alliance.In Lhasa, the Dalai Lama accepts Chinese imperial protection, which lasts until 1911.
Two political parties emerge in Sweden's parliament and become known as the Hats and the Caps.
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