"Earl Sandwich Refusing to Leave His Ship": An 18th Century Etching/Engraving
An 18th century etching and engraving entitled "Earl Sandwich Refusing to Leave His Ship While on Fire in the Battle of Sole Bay" by William Byrne (1743-1805), after a painting by Robert Smirke (1753-1845). It was published in London in 1798.
After: Robert Smirke (1753 - 1845, British)
Creation Year: 1798
Dimensions: Height: 17.13 in (43.52 cm) Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)
Medium: Etching, Engraving
Reference: 659
Condition: See description below.
An 18th century etching and engraving entitled "Earl Sandwich Refusing to Leave His Ship While on Fire in the Battle of Sole Bay" by William Byrne (1743-1805), after a painting by Robert Smirke (1753-1845). It was published in London in 1798.
After: Robert Smirke (1753 - 1845, British)
Creation Year: 1798
Dimensions: Height: 17.13 in (43.52 cm) Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)
Medium: Etching, Engraving
Reference: 659
Condition: See description below.
An 18th century etching and engraving entitled "Earl Sandwich Refusing to Leave His Ship While on Fire in the Battle of Sole Bay" by William Byrne (1743-1805), after a painting by Robert Smirke (1753-1845). It was published in London in 1798.
After: Robert Smirke (1753 - 1845, British)
Creation Year: 1798
Dimensions: Height: 17.13 in (43.52 cm) Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)
Medium: Etching, Engraving
Reference: 659
Condition: See description below.
The print is presented in a cream-colored mat. The mat measures 17.13" in height and 13" in width. The print is in excellent condition.
Edward Montagu, the 1st Earl of Sandwich (1625-1672) was an English military officer, politician and diplomat. He fought for the Parliamentarian army during the First English Civil War. He was an MP several times and was a supporter of Oliver Cromwell and a member of the English Council of State. He later was a supporter of the Restoration of Charles II in May 1660. He was named the 1st Earl of Sandwich in July 1660 and was Ambassador to Portugal from 1661 to 1662 and Spain. Montagu's life is well documented in the diaries of Samuel Pepys, a distant cousin and naval official.
The naval Battle of Sole Bay took place on May 28, 1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Montagu was the British admiral during the battle. He himself was drowned in the battle when he went down with his flag ship.
Montagu's descendant, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792) was a strong supporter of Captain James Cook and, as First Lord of the Admiralty, Sandwich approved the funds for the purchase and retrofit of the ships Resolution, Adventure and Discovery for Cook’s second and third expeditions of discovery in the Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian Islands were initially named the Sandwich Islands in his honor. Montague Island off the south east coast of Australia, the South Sandwich Islands in the Southern Atlantic Ocean and Montague Island in the Gulf of Alaska were also named in his honor as was Hinchinbrook Island, named for the House owned by the Montagu family. He is the inventor of the sandwich.
Robert Smirke )1753-1845) was an English painter and illustrator. He was a member of the Royal Academy. He created illustrations for the Bible, The Picturesque Beauties of Shakespeare, Johnson's Rasselas, Gil Blas, the Arabian Nights, Adventures of Hunchback, Don Quixote, as well as John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery and for Bowyer's History of England.
