John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

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John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 22 April 1786
10 1/2 in. x 6 7/8 in. (267 mm x 174 mm) paper size
Given by W.M. Campbell Smyth, 1936
Reference Collection
NPG D16633

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • John Goldar (1729-1795), Engraver and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 45 portraits.
  • Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 1689 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D16632: John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (from same plate)
  • NPG D38235: John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (from same plate)

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1786back to top

Current affairs

Philosopher and politician Edmund Burke instigates impeachment proceedings against Warren Hastings, former Governor-General of Bengal after concerns about the moral standards of the British in India are raised.
Prime Minister William Pitt appoints commissioners for the reduction of the national debt and establishes a sinking fund of £1 million a year.
Government approves the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay.

Art and science

Robert Burns publishes Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect bringing him immediate success across the country.
Engraver and publisher John Boydell initiates plans for his Shakespeare Gallery in an effort to establish a school of British history painting.
Merchant David Dale establishes New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, as a model cotton milling community.

International

General Charles Cornwallis succeeds Warren Hastings as Governor-General in India.
Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Marriage of Figaro premieres in Vienna.
Francisco Goya is appointed court painter to the Spanish king Charles III.

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