Harriet Mackenzie (née Powell), Countess of Seaforth

by John Raphael Smith, published by John Boydell, after Matthew William Peters
mezzotint, published 23 October 1776
10 3/8 in. x 7 5/8 in. (262 mm x 195 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D4187

Sitterback to top

Harriet Mackenzie (née Powell), Countess of Seaforth (died 1779), Actress and singer; second wife of 2nd Earl of Seaforth. Sitter in 6 portraits.

Artistsback to top

John Boydell (1720-1804), Engraver and printseller. Artist associated with 128 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
Matthew William Peters (1742-1814), Painter and Chaplain to the Prince Regent. Artist associated with 16 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
John Raphael Smith (1752-1812), Portrait painter, engraver and pastellist. Artist associated with 186 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Related worksback to top

NPG D4186: Harriet Mackenzie (née Powell), Countess of Seaforth (from same plate)
NPG D40621: Harriet Mackenzie (née Powell), Countess of Seaforth (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (Cheapside, London)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1776back to top

Current affairs

Tahitian visitor to London Omai returns home with Captain James Cook on his third voyage. During his two-year stay he inspired a play and was painted by Joshua Reynolds.
Member of Parliament David Hartley unsuccessfully introduces a motion to the House of Commons calling for the abolition of the slave trade.

Art and science

Edward Gibbon produces the first volume of his monumental The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Artist John Constable is born.
Scottish economist Adam Smith analyses the nature and causes of prosperity in his magnum opus The Wealth of Nations.

International

American War of Independence: George Washington raises a new American flag on Prospect Hill, Boston. In an anonymous pamphlet entitled Common Sense, English immigrant Thomas Paine is the first to argue that the American colonies should be independent. Declaration of American Independence on 4 July.

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