Richard ('Hellgate') Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Richard ('Hellgate') Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore
by J. Jehner, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 1778
15 in. x 11 in. (380 mm x 280 mm) plate size; 18 in. x 14 7/8 in. (458 mm x 379 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D21480
Sitterback to top
- Richard ('Hellgate') Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore (1769-1793), Actor and politician. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Richard Cosway (1742-1821), Miniature painter. Artist or producer associated with 101 portraits, Sitter in 16 portraits.
- J. Jehner. Artist or producer associated with 3 portraits.
Events of 1778back to top
Current affairs
Catholic Relief Act is the first to provide a measure of catholic emancipation, modifying the penal laws that effectively prevented Catholics from holding public office. The reform is encouraged by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield, who had balked at various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.Art and science
Francis D'Arblay, writing as Fanny Burney, publishes her novel Evelina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, in which she satirises contemporary society.Engineer Joseph Bramah invents a type of flush toilet, replacing the usual slide valve with a hinged flap that seals the bottom of the bowl.
International
American War of Independence: France, joining the American colonies in their fight against Britain, sends a large fleet across the Atlantic. The British rapidly abandon Philadelphia. The American naval hero John Paul Jones makes successful raids around the coasts of Britain.James Cook's third Pacific voyage, aboard the ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, first views Oahu then Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, which Cook names the Sandwich Islands.
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