James Napper Tandy, (1740-1803), United Irishman

James Gillray , English, 1757-1815

Title

Date1799

MediumEtching

Dimensions

Sheet: 28.3 x 22.2 cm

Plate: 26 x 20 cm

Credit LinePurchased, 1913

Object numberNGI.10939

DescriptionA Dublin tradesman, Tandy became disillusioned with restrictions on Irish commerce and joined the United Irishmen. He went to Paris where he was assigned a small party of troops to create the nucleus of an Irish army, to fight for freedom from England. The plot was discovered and Tandy was arrested and sentenced to death. Napoleon intervened and made his agreement to the Peace of Amiens (1801) dependent on Tandy's freedom. This portrait of Tandy in French uniform was drawn from life in his cell in London's Newgate prison, by the well known British caricaturist James Gillray. The print was published by Hannah Humphrey on the 8th November 1799.
Inscriptionlower left: J Gillray
lower centre: Napper Tandy/Taken from Life in Newgate, Novemr 2d. 1799
lower right: London - Published Nov 8th 1799 - by H. Humphrey N. 29. St James's Street.