Illuminated Certificate for George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney

Location

Country: China
City: Beijing
Place: British Embassy

This illuminated certificate announces George Macartney's creation as Viscount Macartney of Dervock in the Irish peerage in 1792. Diplomat and governor, Macartney is remembered for his missions to India and China. He was knighted and appointed envoy-extraordinary to Russia in 1764 and chief secretary to the Irish viceroy, Lord Townshend, in 1769. Following a second knighthood of the Bath in 1772 he was named governor of Grenada, Tobago and the Grenadines in 1775. In the following year he was created Baron Macartney of Lissanoure in the Irish peerage. He was appointed governor of Madras in 1781 and was recommended as successor to Warren Hastings as governor-general in 1785, a position which he declined. The posting for which he is most remembered arrived in 1792 in the form of an embassy to Peking, although his hopes for the establishment of permanent British diplomatic presence in Peking did not come to fruition. He was created viscount in the Irish peerage before his departure and was raised to an earl on his return. His later appointments include missions to Verona to the exiled French king in 1795, and governorship of the Cape. This certificate was purchased in 2003 along with a pastel portrait of Macartney (see GAC 17853/1).

People

George, 1st Earl Macartney Macartney (1737 - 1806)

Places

Subjects

harp, calligraphy/illumination, male portrait, thistle, horse, deer, stag, seal, coat of arms, unicorn

Materials & Techniques

vellum, watercolour (as artists materials), ink, certificate, illuminated certificate, wax seal

Artist

British 18th century unknown

Title

Illuminated Certificate for George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney

Date

1792

Medium

Ink and watercolour on vellum, with wax seal

Acquisition

Purchased from Sotheby's, 27 November 2003

Provenance

Sotheby's, London, 27 November 2003 (Lot 219) (this object added to Lot after catalogue was printed)

GAC number

17853/2