Richard, Marquis Wellesley, facing left in scarlet coat with loops of chain plait embroidery, gold epaulettes, frilled cravat and wearing the blue sash and breast star of the Order of St. Patrick

Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquis (1760-1842) was born in co. Meath. In 1781 on his father's death he became 2nd Earl of Mornington and was returned to Parliament in 1784. He supported Pitt's foreign policy and Wilberforce's efforts to abolish the slave trade and in 1786 he became a lord of the Treasury. In 1797, he was raised to the English peerage as Baron Wellesley and made governor-general of India. It was under his administration that British rule became supreme in India. The influence of the French was extinguished with the disarming of the forces at Hydrabad and the power of the princes reduced by the crushing of Tippoo Sahib at Seringapatam in 1803. In 1799 he was given the rank of Marquis in the Irish peerage and in 1805 he returned to England and in 1809 went to Madrid as ambassador. On his return he was made foreign minister (1809-1812) and in 1821 and 1833, lord-lieutenant of Ireland. Another miniature of this sitter by Shirreff was sold in these rooms 14 October 1998, lot 109.