1820 ALS John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham to Thomas Phillips – Lord Grey

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1820 ALS John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham to Thomas Phillips – Lord Grey:
$10500.00

Remarkable 1820 art and political letter authored by John George Lambton (1792–1840), later 1st Earl of Durham, nicknamed “Radical Jack” and famed Whig statesman. Lambton was a leading advocate of parliamentary reform, a close ally of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (future Prime Minister), and author of the influential Durham Report on Canadian self-government.

Written from Lambton’s London residence at Cleveland Row on July 11, 1820, this letter is addressed to Thomas Phillips RA (1770–1845), one of the era’s foremost portrait painters. Lambton encloses a draft for £180–12, with an additional £105 credited to Lord Grey’s account for his own picture. He instructs Phillips to forward a Richard Wilson RA portrait to Lambton Hall in County Durham, send Lord Grey’s portrait to Mr. Monypenny, and deliver Lambton’s own portrait to Howick Hall after completion by Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA.

This is an extraordinary intersection of British political history, Regency high society, and fine art provenance, tying together three of Britain’s most celebrated artists with one of its most prominentRemarkable 1820 art and political letter authored by John George Lambton (1792–1840), later 1st Earl of Durham, nicknamed “Radical Jack” and famed Whig statesman. Lambton was a leading advocate of parliamentary reform, a close ally of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (future Prime Minister), and author of the influential Durham Report on Canadian self-government.

Full Transcription

(Pencil note at top: “Earl of Durham”)

Mr. Laughton [Lambton] presents his compliments to Mr. Phillips & begs to enclose him a draft for £180 – 12 – the remaining £105 being as Lord Grey’s acc[oun]t for his own picture.

Mr. Laughton would feel much obliged to Mr. P. if he would cause his R. Wilson’s portrait to be forwarded as soon as possible to Lambton Hall, Durham, & Lord Grey’s to Mr. Monypenny’s when ready.

His own portrait, when out of Mr. Reynolds’s hands, Mr. L. [would] request [be] sent to Howick, Alnwick.

Cleveland Row
July 11, 1820

Biographies of Notable Figures

John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792–1840) – Whig MP, Privy Councillor, Governor General of British North America, and political reformer. Close ally of Earl Grey and key architect of the Great Reform Act 1832. His Durham Report (1839) laid the foundation for responsible government in Canada.

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845) – British Prime Minister (1830–1834) who oversaw the Reform Act 1832 and abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Howick Hall, mentioned in the letter, was his ancestral seat.

Thomas Phillips RA (1770–1845) – Prominent Regency-era portraitist, producing likenesses of Byron, Shelley, Faraday, and other cultural luminaries. Exhibited over 700 works at the Royal Academy.

Richard Wilson RA (1714–1782) – Pioneering British landscape painter, widely regarded as the father of British landscape art and a major influence on Turner and Constable.

Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (1723–1792) – England’s most celebrated portrait painter of the 18th century, first president of the Royal Academy, known for his “Grand Style” depictions of the aristocracy.

Lambton Hall, Durham – Seat of the Lambton family, later Earls of Durham.

Mr. Monypenny – Likely William Monypenny, art collector and social figure in Whig political circles.

Why This Letter is Important

Authored by a key British reformist statesman with transatlantic political impact.
Links three major British artists — Phillips, Reynolds, Wilson.
Documents high-value art transactions and movement between elite estates.
Strong provenance: dated, location-specific, and naming multiple significant figures.
Ties together politics, art history, and aristocratic networks of the Regency period.

Condition: Very good for its age. Ink remains strong and legible. Some light handling marks. Pencil note “Earl of Durham” at top, likely added by a later archivist or dealer.reformist politicians.

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Full Transcription

(Pencil note at top: “Earl of Durham”)

Mr. Laughton [Lambton] presents his compliments to Mr. Phillips & begs to enclose him a draft for £180 – 12 – the remaining £105 being as Lord Grey’s acc[oun]t for his own picture.

His own portrait, when out of Mr. Reynolds’s hands, Mr. L. [would] request [be] sent to Howick, Alnwick.

Cleveland Row

July 11, 1820

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Biographies of Notable Figures

Thomas Phillips RA (1770–1845) – Prominent Regency-era portraitist, producing likenesses of Byron, Shelley, Faraday, and other cultural luminaries. Exhibited over 700 works at the Royal Academy.

Richard Wilson RA (1714–1782) – Pioneering British landscape painter, widely regarded as the father of British landscape art and a major influence on Turner and Constable.

Lambton Hall, Durham – Seat of the Lambton family, later Earls of Durham.

Mr. Monypenny – Likely William Monypenny, art collector and social figure in Whig political circles.

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Why This Letter is Important

Authored by a key British reformist statesman with transatlantic political impact.

Links three major British artists — Phillips, Reynolds, Wilson.

Documents high-value art transactions and movement between elite estates.

Strong provenance: dated, location-specific, and naming multiple significant figures.

Ties together politics, art history, and aristocratic networks of the Regency period.

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Condition: Very good for its age. Ink remains strong and legible. Some light handling marks. Pencil note “Earl of Durham” at top, likely added by a later archivist or dealer.