Portrait of The Right Honourable John George Lambton, Baron Durham, 1832

An engraving of the Right Honourable John George Lambton, (1792-1840), Baron Durham (1828-1833), by J. Cochran after a painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence. Published by Fisher, Son & Co., 1832.

Image shows a highly-detailed black and white stipple engraving, rectangular in shape, of a white male approximately in his late thirties, with short dark curly hair. He is seated and positioned turned to the left with his gaze outward to the right, in a half-length portrait. He wears thick dark robes with a fur mantle, white shirt, and black cravat. On his visible hand he wears a signet ring on his little finger. A column is positioned behind him, along with a scene of clouds and trees to the left. Small text below the image on the left reads: ‘Painted by Sir Tho.s Lawrence. P.R.A.’ and to the right, ‘Engraved by J. Cochran.’ Further below and to the centre: ‘THE RT HONBLE JOHN-GEORGE LAMBTON, BARON DURHAM.’ Followed by a facsimile of Lambton’s signature ‘Durham’ and smaller text beneath reading ‘FISHER, SON. & CO. LONDON. 1832’

John-George Lambton (1792-1840) was also known as “Radical Jack” due to his support of liberal causes and instrumental work on the Reform Bill of 1832. He was described in a 1959 History Today article by George Woodcock as “proud, wayward, immensely rich, with romantic good looks and an explosive temper…one of those natural rebels who turn their rebellious energies to constructive purposes.” He was first elected to Parliament in 1812, holding the seat for County Durham until 1828, when he became Baron Durham. He also served as Ambassador to Russia, and had associations with the colonisation of Canada and New Zealand, a history we would now hardly describe as that of an “uncompromising foe of oppression.” That description was included alongside this print in the 1833 Volume 4 of National Portrait Gallery of Illustrious and Eminent Persons of the 19th Century, with Memoirs by William Jerdan: “In the House of Lords, Lord Durham has not lowered his reputation – he has raised it – and is still the same eloquent advocate of popular rights, the same fearless champion of freedom…Wherever the ‘Reformer of the North’ directs his footsteps, there, we are assured, the eternal cause of freedom will not be abandoned.”

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