Sir Philip Francis

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Sir Philip Francis

by James Lonsdale
oil on canvas, circa 1806-1810
29 1/2 in. x 24 in. (749 mm x 610 mm)
Purchased, 1871
Primary Collection
NPG 334

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • James Lonsdale (1777-1839), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 107 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.

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Sir Phillip Francis is best known as the likely author of the Letters of Junius (1769-72), an anonymous series of brilliant political polemics which were one of the literary sensations of the late eighteenth century. Having filled a number of government posts in England and become a well-known scourge of corruption in the British administration, he went to India in 1774 as a member of the Supreme Council of India. He was soon disgusted by the dishonesty that seemed to characterise the Indian governing class and became one of Governor-General Warren Hastings's most bitter opponents. He left India in 1780 and proceeded to assist Edmund Burke in procuring Hasting's impeachment and trial of 1788-95.

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Events of 1806back to top

Current affairs

William Pitt dies in January and his lifelong opponent Charles James Fox dies in September. Pitt is succeeded by William Wyndham, Baron Grenville, who forms the 'Ministry of all the Talents' coalition .
Prince of Wales instigates the 'Delicate Investigation'; a Parliamentary enquiry into claims that his wife Caroline had an illegitimate child.

Art and science

John Constable embarks on a formative tour of the Lakes and makes landscape studies of the Langdale Pikes and Helvellyn.
Turner exhibits his Thames views to acclaim at his own London gallery.
Humphrey Davy discovers the elements potassium and sodium by passing an electrical current through molten compounds.

International

Soprano Angelica Catalani arrives from Italy to make her London debut, amazing audiences with her showpiece arias.
Napoleon turns his forces east against Austria, Russia and Prussia and enjoys a wave of French victories.
British attack on Buenos Aires under General William Beresford fails.

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