William Beechey 1753-1839

On 12th December 1753 William Beechey was born.

1789. William Beechey [aged 35]. Portrait of Paul Sandby [aged 58].

Before 1790. William Beechey [aged 36]. Portrait of George Brudenell aka Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 77] in the Windsor Uniform.

In 1797. William Beechey [aged 43]. Portrait of Princess Amelia Hanover [aged 13].

Princess Amelia Hanover: On 7th August 1783 she was born to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland and Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England. On 2nd November 1810 Princess Amelia Hanover died. Before September 1823 Elizabeth Boughton Baroness Templetown was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Princess Amelia Hanover.

Around 1800. William Beechey [aged 46]. Portrait of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 61].

1800. William Beechey [aged 46]. Self-Portrait.

1803. William Beechey [aged 49]. Portrait of Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth [aged 45].

Around 1815. William Beechey [aged 61]. Portrait of Harriet Mellon Duchess St Albans [aged 37].

1818. William Beechey [aged 64]. Portrait of Princess Augusta Hesse-Kassel Duchess Cambridge [aged 20].

1826. William Beechey [aged 72]. Portrait of Thomas Assheton-Smith of Ashley in Cheshire [aged 74].

Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans

Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Around 1830. William Beechey [aged 76]. Portrait of King William IV of the United Kingdom [aged 64].

Before 1835 . William Beechey [aged 81]. Portrait of Joseph Nollekens. An autographed replica by Beechey of the work which now hangs in the Tate Britain, London

Before 28th January 1839. William Beechey [aged 85]. Portrait of Charles Brudenell 1st Marquess Ailesbury [aged 65].

On 28th January 1839 William Beechey [aged 85] died.