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Samuel Butler

3 of 6 portraits by Cook

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Samuel Butler

by Cook, after Gilbert Soest
line engraving, published 1778
4 1/2 in. x 2 3/4 in. (114 mm x 70 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D30126

Sitterback to top

  • Samuel Butler (1612-1680), Author of 'Hudibras'. Sitter in 26 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • Cook (active 1778-1787), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 6 portraits.
  • Gilbert Soest (circa 1605-1681), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 48 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

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is encouraged by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield, who had balked at various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.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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