On or before 4th March 1611, the date he was baptised at St Andrew's Church, Holborn [Map], William Dobson was born.
Around 1637. William Dobson [aged 25]. Self-Portrait.
Around 1637. William Dobson [aged 25]. Self-Portrait with Nicholas Lanier and Charles Cotterell [aged 21].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of the Prince Rupert Palatinate Simmern 1st Duke Cumberland [aged 22], Colonel John Russell [aged 22] and Colonel William Murray.
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of the future King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 11].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of Edward Dering 1st Baronet [aged 44].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of Endymion Porter [aged 55].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of Richard Neville [aged 26].
Around 1643. William Dobson [aged 31]. Portrait of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 33].
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton [aged 21].
Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of Richard Fanshawe 1st Baronet [aged 35].
Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of Inigo Jones [aged 70].
Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of Simon Fanshawe [aged 39].
Simon Fanshawe: On or before 23rd April 1604 he was born to Henry Fanshawe and Elizabeth Smythe. He was baptised 23 Apr 1604. On 11th April 1640 Simon Fanshawe was knighted. In 1679 Simon Fanshawe died.
Around 1645. William Dobson [aged 33]. Portrait of Richard Lovelace of Kingsdown.
Richard Lovelace of Kingsdown: he was born to William Lovelace of Woolwich. In 1658 he died.
Around 1646. William Dobson [aged 34]. Portrait of Thomas Aylesbury 1st Baronet [aged 70].
On or before 28th October 1646 William Dobson [aged 35] died. He was buried on 28th October 1646.
Before 1652. William Dobson. Portrait of John Byron 1st Baron Byron [aged 52].
John Evelyn's Diary. 24th January 1685. I din'd at Lord Newport's [aged 64], who has some excellent pictures, especialy that of Sr Tho. Hanmer, by Van Dyke, one of the best he ever painted; another of our English Dobson's painting; but above all, Christ in the Virgin's lap by Poussin, an admirable piece, with some thing of most other famous hands.
