1003150
- Title[Lord Sydney before Botany Bay], 14 July 1784 / by James Sayers
- Creator
- Call numberP2/533
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
London : Jas. Bretherton, 14 July 1784 - Type of material
- Reference code1003150
- Issue CopyDigitised
- Physical Description1 print - copper engraving - 17.5 x 11.3 cm plate mark, on paper sheet 22.8 x 15.1 cm
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Thomas Townsend, 1st Viscount Sydney, (1733–1800) was Secretary of State for the Home Department in William Pitt’s government and he recommended the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay. In 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip named the convict settlement in Port Jackson Sydney in honour of him. Tommy Townsend was just twenty-one when he entered the House of Commons in 1754. Being one of the few British politicians to support American independence, he was ‘accused by many of corruption and treachery’. He was created Baron Sydney of Chislehurst and entered the House of Lords on 6 March 1783. He originally proposed his title be Baron Sidney, in honour of his kinsman Algernon Sidney, however he was worried that other members of his family might have claims on it and then suggested Sydenham, the name of a village near his home in Kent, before settling on Sydney. After spending fourteen years in opposition, where he was noted as having a fiery temper, he agreed to join a new cabinet shortly after King George III had sacked the previous ministry. Tinks argues that whilst he may have been ‘prickly and eccentric’, he was one amongst several British parliamentarians who were pivotal figures during some of the most turbulent periods of parliamentary government in the English speaking world.
At the age of 49 he became Secretary of State with responsibility for the American peace negotiations, administered the influx of loyalist refugees from American into Canada and was instrumental in redirecting the transportation of British convicts from America to New South Wales.
Reference:
Lord Sydney: the life and times of Tommy Townsend, by Andrew Tink, Australian Scholarly Publishing, Sydney, 2011, p. 3-4.
James Sayers (1748-1823) was a prominent political satirist in England in the eighteenth century. An attorney of independent means he quit his profession in order to focus on political caricature. His allegiance was with the Tory, William Pitt and he directed his satire against Charles James Fox and his Coalition Ministry. Sayers' strengths lay in his gift for portraiture, which were so powerful and direct that Charles Fox is said to have declared that they did him more harm than all the attacks made on him in parliament or the press. Sayers was supportive of Pitt and shared his political leanings. When Pitt succeeded to office, he rewarded Sayers with the post of marshal of the court of exchequer. Sayers continued, however, to publish occasional caricatures and satirical poems.
References:
National Portrait Gallery. http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp53255/james-sayers (accessed October 22, 2012)
Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 50 - Scope and ContentThis copper engraving published by James Bretherton depicts a middle aged Townshend in 1784, a year after receiving his title. He is standing side on, with one hand resting on his sword and the other holding out his hat, depicting him in the middle of a speech in the Commons.
- Access Conditions
Access via appointment - Copying ConditionsOut of copyright: Creator died before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales - General note
Digital order no:a6964001 - Creator/Author/Artist
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