LONDON, ENGLAND.- An interesting portrait of one of the 18th century’s most colourful political characters is to go under the hammer at Bonhams in December. A portrait of a gentleman, said to be Lord George Gordon, is expected to fetch between £3,000 – 5,000 at Bonhams’ Sale of Old Master Paintings at 101 New Bond Street, London, on 6 December 2006. Lord George Gordon was renowned for his aggressive criticism of government policy with regards to the repeal of the Catholic Relief Act, the Americas, the administration of justice, and the deportation of prisoners to Botany Bay in Australia. He died in prison after being accused of libelling the queen of France, Marie Antoinette.

Lord George Gordon was born in 1751, third son of Cosmo George Gordon, third Duke of Gordon (1720/21–1752). After Eton, he entered the Navy and became a lieutenant in 1772. He spent three years in America between 1766 and 1769; it is this period abroad that can be credited as possibly awakening Lord George Gordon's political consciousness. Upon his return, he secured a seat in Parliament for Ludgershall, Wiltshire, and made his first recorded speech on 13th April 1778 denouncing the government's American policy. From here his career took a decided downward turn as a result of his strong and aggressive opinions.

The 'Gordon Riots' - Lord George Gordon is perhaps best known now for his lobbying for the repeal of the Catholic Relief Act, as president of the Protestant Association. The Government had passed the Act in 1778, removing the harsh anti-Catholic laws of the late 1600s, which met with anger and rioting Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Protestant Association arranged a petition and asked Lord George Gordon to head a march on Parliament to present it. On the same day, Catholic chapels across London came under attack. Clashes between protesters and the 12,000 troops called in by the king spiralled out of control. London was in turmoil for ten days as the houses of Catholics and supposed sympathisers were burned to the ground. When the smoke cleared the scale of the horror became apparent. 700 were dead, 450 arrested and 160 of those indicted. 25 people were executed for their role in the riots, the Lord Mayor of London was fined £1,000 for criminal negligence, and Gordon taken to the Tower of London where he was tried for High Treason.

Although he was acquitted of committing treason, Lord George Gordon’s life was henceforth full of eccentric schemes, political and financial, which led to his ultimate downfall. His activities lead him to be arrested and prosecuted on two counts. First, he was charged with the publication of a pamphlet criticising the administration of justice, in particular the use of transportation to Botany Bay. Second, he was accused of libelling the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment as he could not obtain securities for his good behaviour on the termination of his term of imprisonment, he was not allowed to leave Newgate Gaol, and there he died in delirium on November 1, 1793.

The portrait to be sold at Bonhams shows the eccentric MP seated at a desk and holding a book. It measures 43.5 x 30.4 cm.