The Right Honble Richd Earl Howe. Portrait

London: J. Brydon, Charing Cross, 1794. Striking mezzotint portrait of Admiral Howe, Commander-in-Chief of the British fleet in North America during the American Revolution, and one of the major figures in British naval history. This portrait was published just six months after his famous victory of the 'Glorious First of June', the first naval battle of the French Revolutionary Wars.

Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe (1726 - 1799), joined the British Navy at an early age and served in the war of Austrian Succession, the Jacobite Rebellion, the Seven Years War, the American Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars.

At the onset of the American Revolution Howe, who was sympathetic to the colonists' cause, unsuccessfully attemped to negotiate a reconciliation. Howe then worked with his brother, General William Howe, the head of land forces, to blockade the American coastline.

Admiral Howe took part in the successful operation to capture Philadelphia in 1777, fought off the coast of Rhode Island against French naval forces, and attacked American troops in the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.

The portrait depicts Howe half length, in uniform, within in rectangular frame, with a chart and sword posed on the ledge in front of him. Printed below the image: Dedicated by Permission To Sir Charles Saxton Baronet, Proprietor of the Original Picture. Painted in Crayons by S.de Koster. Engraved by T. Burke. London, Publish'd Dec.r 1 1794 by J.Brydon, Charing Cross. 14 x 19 3/4", paper 15 1/2 x 21". Very small circular punch hole at right side of print, otherwise in very good condition.