16 OF 20

King William II ('Rufus')

16 of 20 portraits of King William II ('Rufus')

by George Vertue
line engraving, engraved 1733
11 5/8 in. x 7 5/8 in. (294 mm x 193 mm) plate size; 13 1/2 in. x 9 3/8 in. (342 mm x 237 mm) paper size
Given by Sir Herbert Henry Raphael, 1st Bt, 1913
Reference Collection
NPG D20365

Sitterback to top

King William II ('Rufus') (circa 1056-1100), Reigned 1087-1100. Sitter associated with 20 portraits.

Artistback to top

George Vertue (1683-1756), Engraver and antiquary. Artist or producer associated with 864 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.

Portrait setback to top

Wheatley's London (volume 3, part 3)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1733back to top

Current affairs

Prime Minister Robert Walpole narrowly escapes defeat in the House of Lords over the investigation into the South Sea affair. His Excise scheme, introduced the previous year, also provokes widespread resistance among merchants and is withdrawn.
Sugar and Molasses Act is passed by Parliament to tax British colonists in North America.

Art and science

John Kay, working in the Lancashire woollen industry, patents the flying shuttle to speed up weaving.
Poet Alexander Pope publishes his philosophical Essay on Man, which proposes a system of ethics in poetic form.
Clergyman Stephen Hales publishes the second volume of his Statical Essays, Haemastaticks, describing the measurement of the 'force of the blood', later known as blood pressure.

International

Philip V of Spain and Louis XV of France sign the Treaty of Escurial and form an alliance against Britain.
Voltaire publishes Letters on the English Nation comparing France unfavourably with England.
British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia.

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