Engraving of James, 3rd Earl of Hopetoun

Add to album

The Earl (1741-1816) served as a young man in the Scots Guards. As well as pursuing a political career after his succession, he raised the Hopetoun Fencibles in 1793. They can be seen in the background.

Fencible regiments were raised in the face of the threat of invasion by Napoleon: the word is short for 'defencible'. They were forerunners of the Territorial Army.

John Kay was born near Edinburgh in 1742. A keen artist from childhood, he was a barber until 1785 when he became a full-time engraver and painter of miniatures. His portraits of Edinburgh characters are vivid and unmistakable.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-000-100-229-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: The Thistle at War
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  Lib.1640.81
• Date: 1795
  
• Material: Paper
  Print / portrait
  
• Dimensions: 280 mm H
  
• What: Print / portrait
  
• Subject: Prints
  
• Who: Earl of Hopetoun
  Hopetoun Fencibles
  John Kay (artist)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh (depicted)
  
• Event:
• Description: Portrait of the Earl of Hopetoun with a distant view of the Hopetoun Fencibles, by John Kay, Edinburgh, 1795. From Kay's Portraits. Volume I, Plate LXXXI.
  
• References:
  • Kay, John A series of original portraits and caricature etchings with biographical sketches and anecdotes 2 volumes Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, 1837-38 
• Translations:
• Related Records: