William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington
1 portrait
© National Portrait Gallery, London
William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington
by Benedetto Pistrucci
bronze medal, 1823
2 in. (50 mm) diameter
Purchased, 1990
Primary Collection
NPG 6080
Sitterback to top
- William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington (1763-1845), Conservative politician; MP for Trim, East Looe and Queen's County. Sitter associated with 5 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Benedetto Pistrucci (1784-1855), Medallist. Artist or producer associated with 5 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Wellesley-Pole appointed Pistrucci to the Mint to work on the coinage, in his capacity as Master of the Royal Mint (1814-23). His colleagues commissioned this medal in recognition of his time in office. The portrait is accompanied by an inscription on the reverse, recording Pole's achievements: 'In honour of the noble William Wellesley Pole, Baron Maryborough, for nine years Master of Mint affairs, who not only restored British coinage to its former brilliancy but instituted a new and more beautiful one'.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 442
Events of 1823back to top
Current affairs
Gaols Act is passed to build new prisons, raise standards in old ones and institute regular inspections. It is prompted by the vigorous campaigning of reformers such as Elizabeth Fry, leader of the Ladies Association for the Improvement of Female Prisoners in Newgate Prison.Anti-Slavery Committee is founded in London.
Art and science
Architect, Robert Smirke begins construction of the British Museum.Thomas Wakley founds The Lancet, the first weekly medical journal and important mouthpiece of medical reform.
Charles Babbage begins work on the first calculating machine.
Charles Macintosh invents waterproof fabric.
International
Catholic Association is founded by Daniel O'Connell in Ireland in an attempt to mobilise and politicise the entire Irish Catholic population in a systematic challenge to the ruling Protestant ascendancy.War breaks out between France and Spain.
English missionary John Smith died in prison having been sentenced to be hanged for failing to take up arms against slaves in Demerara.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.