Portrait of Sir William Webb Follett, Knight, M.P, 1836

A portrait of Sir William Webb Follett (1796-1845), Knight, M.P. Engraved by H. T. Ryall after a painting by A. E. Chalon, R.A. Published by H. T. Ryall, 3. Euston Square, J. Fraser, 215 Regent Street, and E. G. Moon, Threadneedle Street, 1836.

Print comprises a waist-length stipple portrait of a white male in his thirties or forties. Seated, he looks out to the right of the frame, in a smart dark jacket with short dark hair. An elongated octagon frames the portrait and small text below reads, ‘Painted by A.E. Chalon. R. A. Engraved by H.T. Ryall.’ In Italic scroll, ‘Sir William Webb Follett. Knt. M.P.’ and beneath this: ‘ Published by H. T. Ryall, 3. EustonSquare, J. Fraser, 215 Regent Street, and E. G. Moon, Threadneedle Street, 1836’.

Born in the estuary town of Topsham, near Exeter, Sir William Webb Follett (1796-1845) was described as the greatest advocate of his generation. A lawyer and MP, he died prematurely at the age of 48 from tuberculosis, “aggravated, if not caused by his unremitting devotion to his public and professional duties.” (as commemorated in a monument to him in Westminster Abbey.) He attended the Exeter Free Grammar School alongside Rector Erskine Neale, who dedicates a whole chapter to him in his memoir, describing:

“Follett, as a boy, was rather slow. There is no use in denying it. There was at school nothing dashing or brilliant about him. His articulation in boyhood was thick; and his demeanour somewhat sluggish…There was one peculiarity about the late Attorney-General in boyhood, which, I am inclined to think, accompanied him in afterlife. He possessed the entire confidence of our little community. – The sentiment he inspired, generally, was respect. “Well! That’s Webb Follett’s opinion” – was a dictum which settled many a boyish quarrel, and stilled many an angry difference. Perhaps this might mainly be owing to his manner: for even in boyhood he was calm, and grave, and self-possessed. There was a composedness about him which no petty irritations could ruffle. Webb Follett in a passion would have been a rare spectacle on the play-ground.”

He was called to the bar in 1824 and a decade later was appointed Solicitor-General, King’s Counsel and received a knighthood. He became MP for Exeter in 1835 and remained so for ten years.

The original artist of this depiction, Alfred Edward Chalon, was a painter and watercolourist who exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1810. The engraver, Henry Thomas Ryall was Historical Engraver to the Queen in 1843, and the publishers…(QUERY – listed A portrait of Sir William Webb Follett (1796-1845), Knight, M.P. Engraved by H. T.Ryall after a painting by A. E. Chalon, R.A. Published by H. T. Ryall, 3. Euston Square, J. Fraser, 215 Regent Street, and E. G. Moon, Threadneedle Street, 1836.

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