'Overthrow of the Republican-Babel'

Identify sitters

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 May 1809
15 7/8 in. x 13 in. (402 mm x 329 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D12921

Artistsback to top

James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist associated with 881 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
Hannah Humphrey (circa 1745-1818), Publisher and printseller. Artist associated with 719 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Sittersback to top

William Bosville (1745-1813), Bon vivant. Sitter in 10 portraits. Identify
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1776-1839), Statesman and print collector. Sitter associated with 41 portraits. Identify
Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt (1770-1844), Parliamentary reformer. Sitter associated with 135 portraits. Identify
George Canning (1770-1827), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 62 portraits. Identify
Mary Anne Clarke (née Thompson) (1776-1852), Mistress of the Duke of York. Sitter in 8 portraits. Identify
William Cobbett (1763-1835), Journalist, agriculturalist and politician; MP for Oldham. Sitter associated with 57 portraits. Identify
Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester (1757-1829), Speaker of the House of Commons. Sitter associated with 10 portraits. Identify
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), Whig politician; Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord President of the Council; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter associated with 77 portraits. Identify
Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry (Lord Castlereagh) (1769-1822), Statesman. Sitter associated with 56 portraits. Identify
Spencer Perceval (1762-1812), Prime Minister. Sitter in 20 portraits. Identify
William Pleydell-Bouverie, 3rd Earl of Radnor (1779-1869), Whig politician; MP for Downtown and Salisbury. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Horne Tooke (1736-1812), Radical politician; MP and philologist. Sitter associated with 49 portraits. Identify
Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle (circa 1761-1833), Soldier and politician. Sitter in 9 portraits. Identify
Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815), Politician and brewer; son of brewer Samuel Whitbread. Sitter associated with 21 portraits. Identify
Sir John Wishart Belsches (later Stuart), 3rd or 4th Bt (1752-1821), Politician; MP for Kincardineshire. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (27 St James's Street, London)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1809back to top

Current affairs

Duke of Portland resigns as Prime Minister to be succeeded by Spencer Perceval.
Motion for parliamentary reform is defeated in the House of Commons.
Notorious duel between George Canning and Viscount Castlereagh over strategic failures against Napoleon.

Art and science

Maria Edgeworth publishes Tales of Fashionable Life, a popular and perceptive series of stories exploring Anglo-Irish society after the Union.
Robert Smirke completes the New Covent Garden Theatre after fire. 'Old Price' theatre riots quickly break out against rising cost of admission.
Pall Mall in London is lit by gas for the first time.

International

British army lands in Lisbon and defeats the French at Talavera. Arthur Wellesley is created Viscount Wellington as a result of this victory.
Walcheren expedition led by General Chatham, which aimed to take Antwerp, fails amidst allegations of military corruption and carnage.
James Madison is elected President of the United States.

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