James Fitzgerald, 1st Duke of Leinster when Earl of Kildare

by James Macardell, published by Michael Ford, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1754 (circa 1753)
13 7/8 in. x 9 3/4 in. (352 mm x 248 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D5058

Sitterback to top

James Fitzgerald, 1st Duke of Leinster (1722-1773), Politician and landowner. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Michael Ford (died 1765), Painter and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 7 portraits.
James Macardell (1727 or 1728-1765), Mezzotint engraver. Artist or producer associated with 291 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1415 portraits, Sitter associated with 39 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG D5057: James Fitzgerald, 1st Duke of Leinster when Earl of Kildare (based on same portrait)
NPG D14788: James Fitzgerald, 1st Duke of Leinster when Earl of Kildare (based on same portrait)
NPG D37288: James Fitzgerald, 1st Duke of Leinster when Earl of Kildare (based on same portrait)

Subject/Themeback to top

Mezzotint

Events of 1754back to top

Current affairs

Death of the Prime Minister Henry Pelham. He is succeeded by his brother Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle.
General election increases the Whig party's majority

Art and science

Scottish chemist Joseph Black identifies carbon dioxide.
Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (Society of Arts) is established in London.
Designer and cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale publishes his first catalogue of furniture.
Philosopher David Hume's expansive and best-selling six-volume History of Great Britain begins publication.

International

Albany Congress: the British colonies negotiate with the native-American Iroquois in the face of the French threat in the Ohio valley. Benjamin Franklin proposes that the colonies should unite to form a colonial government. The pro-union woodcut he publishes of a snake cut into eight pieces, entitled 'Join or Die', becomes America's first political cartoon.
George Washington kills ten French troops at Fort Duquesne.

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