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Artist
Thomas Burford, c. 1710 - c. 1770
Sitter
James Edward Oglethorpe, 22 Dec 1696 - 30 Jun 1785
Date
before 1757
Type
Print
Medium
Mezzotint on paper
Dimensions
Image: 31.7 x 24.9 cm (12 1/2 x 9 13/16")
Sheet: 35.2 x 25.1 cm (13 7/8 x 9 7/8")
Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16")
Topic
Costume\Headgear\Helmet
Costume\Hair Accessory\Wig
Weapon\Sword
Exterior\Landscape\Battleground
Nature & Environment\Animal\Horse
James Edward Oglethorpe: Male
James Edward Oglethorpe: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Social Reformer
James Edward Oglethorpe: Military\Army\Officer\British
James Edward Oglethorpe: Society and Social Change\Philanthropist
James Edward Oglethorpe: Politics and Government\Governor\Colonial Governor\Georgia
James Edward Oglethorpe: Politics and Government\Statesman\British
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.77.42
Exhibition Label
Born London, England
Largely though his investigations of Britain's penal system, philanthropist James Oglethorpe came to see his country's American empire as a place for England's prisoners to gain a fresh start in life. In 1732, he acted on that conviction, setting sail for America with some 130 debtors and unemployed workers to establish the new colony of Georgia. As governor, Oglethorpe lost no time in introducing measures to promote harmony within his settlement. His first acts included a ban on rum and a law guaranteeing equitable treatment of the region's native peoples. In 1743 he returned permanently to England, although he continued to act as governor until 1752, when the powers of his royal charter reverted back to the king. Thomas Burford's mezzotint depicts Georgia's governor in military dress and was meant to commemorate his armed attempts to keep Spanish authorities out of Florida.
