Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt
11 of 15 portraits by John Wood
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt
by William James Ward, after John Wood
mezzotint, published 1842
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D3852
Sitterback to top
- Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt (1788-1850), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 323 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- William James Ward (circa 1800-1840), Engraver; son of William Ward. Artist or producer associated with 40 portraits.
- John Wood (1801-1870), History and portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 15 portraits.
Events of 1842back to top
Current affairs
Edwin Chadwick publishes his damning report, Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Poor, which details the shocking living conditions of the urban poor and prompts government to take a new interest in public health issues.A year-long depression and the rejection of the Chartist petition leads to riots, with workers striking in the Midlands, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and parts of Scotland.
Art and science
Mudie's Lending Library opens, becoming one of the largest circulating libraries in the period. Made popular by the otherwise high cost of books, it exerts a great influence over literature; both by maintaining the more costly 'three decker' novel structure, and acting as moral censor.Richard Owen, the English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist, coins the term 'dinosaur', combining the Greek words for 'formidable' and 'reptile'.
International
Treaty of Nanjing, which allows China to trade with Britain and lends Hong Kong to the British crown for 150 years. In Afghanistan, the Anglo-Afghan war ends as the British abandon Kabul, withdrawing to India and losing most of their garrison force in the operation with only one member, Dr William Brydon, surviving.Comments back to top
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Anne Gee
07 October 2021, 22:50
Can you tell me the connection with Sir Robert Peel and the West End Inn, in Wolverhampton, which was an Ansells house. His name is mentioned in 1880.
My parents were licencee s in 1952 until 1956