Sir Edward Astley, 4th Bt

1 portrait of Sir Edward Astley, 4th Bt

by Richard Earlom, after Benjamin West
mezzotint, 1771 or after
20 1/8 in. x 13 7/8 in. (510 mm x 353 mm) plate size; 20 1/2 in. x 14 3/8 in. (520 mm x 364 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D7416

Sitterback to top

Sir Edward Astley, 4th Bt (1729-1802), Collector and politician; MP for Norfolk. Sitter in 1 portrait.

Artistsback to top

Richard Earlom (1743-1822), Engraver. Artist associated with 107 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
Benjamin West (1738-1820), History painter and President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 39 portraits, Sitter associated with 43 portraits.

Subject/Themeback to top

Mezzotint

Events of 1771back to top

Current affairs

Artist Benjamin West exhibits his celebrated modern history painting The Death of Wolfe at the Royal Academy, commemorating the death of General James Wolfe at the 1759 Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War. The painting creates a sensation and George III commissions a copy.
Reporting of parliamentary debates is permitted.

Art and science

Richard Arkwright begins to develop cotton mills at Cromford in the Derwent Valley, Derbyshire; one of the earliest factory complexes.
Botanist James Robertson makes the first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis.
Encyclopedia Britannica is completed with 2,931 pages.
First recorded cricket match is played in Horsham, West Sussex.

International

First voyage of James Cook ends. HMS Endeavour anchors in the port of Deal, Kent following its three-year global circumnavigation.
Spain cedes the Falkland Islands to Britain.

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