Engraving of James, 3rd Earl of Hopetoun

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.

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Online ID:	000-000-100-229-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0207: The Thistle at War Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland Lib.1640.81
Date:	1795
Material:	Paper
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
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