This very attractive, 18th century Portrait of Hugh Palliser is printed on laid paper and measures approx. 4 1/2” by 6 3/4” (sheet size) including thin margins on each edge. The Image is a bust portrait Pallister in military uniform and carries the mark of the engraver - Edward Orme, the artist D. Orme and is copyright 1796 by the publisher - I. Sewell of London.

     Hugh Palliser entered the navy in 1735 as a midshipman onboard the HMS Aldborough commanded by his uncle Nicholas Robinson. For the next 18 years he served on various ships in Her Majesty’s Navy. In early 1753 Palliser was appointed captain of the 50-gun HMS Bristol, but soon afterwards was returned to a convoy consisting of HMS Seahorse and HMS Nightingale, to protect transports being used to move two British Army regiments to the Colonies to be used against the French forces there. He sailed in January 1755, but chose to sail far south of the usual route. Going as far south as the Tropic of Cancer, he avoided the usual stormy and rough crossing, which won him significant notoriety and praise from governmental authorities.

     In 1759 during the French and Indian War, Palliser participated in the successful British capture of Quebec City, commanding the seamen who landed and took possession of Lower Town. In 1762 Palliser commanded a four-ship armada dispatched to retake St. Johns, Newfoundland, but the area was already in British control when he arrived following the Battle of Signal Hill.

     In 1764 Palliser was named Governor and Commander-in-Chief at Newfoundland. He had under his command the 50-gun HMS Guernsey, and several frigates. His forces encountered a similar French force which was ostensibly regulating their remaining fishing grounds in the area, but Palliser perceived that they had altered their maps to show they controlled more area than had been agreed upon in the negotiations which ended the conflict in this area. The French minister in London used this clash to complain to the British government against Palliser, but he was able to produce sufficient maps and supporting material to convince his superiors of his correct actions. Palliser actively supported the fisheries as a source of trained seamen for the Royal Navy. As such he took active steps to enforce the provisions of Treaty of Paris (1763) restricting French access to their specific fishing rights. He also sought to restrict further settlement of Newfoundland, so to encourage the British based industry. Palliser remained Governor of Newfoundland until 1768. In 1770 Commodore Palliser was appointed Comptroller of the Navy, and in that same year was elected an elder brother of the Trinity House, which oversees British lighthouses and provides general expertise to the government on naval matters.

     In 1773 Palliser was made Baronet.[2] In 1774 he was elected to Parliament for the Borough of Scarborough.[2] In 1775 he achieved flag rank when promoted to rear-admiral. Under the Earl of Sandwich he became one of the Lords of the Admiralty and received the sinecure of Lieutenant-General of Marines. In 1775 he initiated legislation to encourage ship fisheries, known as Palliser’s Act but titled "The Act for the Encouragement of the Ship Fishery". Historian Sean Cadigan, author of Hope and Deception in Conception Bay (1995), has since linked Palliser's Act with the high-valuation of women's labor in 18th Century Newfoundland. Given that Palliser's Act required producers to pre-pay their laborers for the fishing season, producers developed little incentive to hire outside of their families: hired labour was high risk because pre-paid wages reduced producers' margin for gain (or loss). As such, Palliser's Act inspired the merger of household labor with the market, making women's work essential to the economic success of the colony.

     In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War Palliser was appointed to the Channel Fleet under Admiral Augustus Keppel. On 27 July 1778 in the First Battle of Ushant, the Channel Fleet fought an inconclusive battle with the French fleet. The battle’s outcome led to personal acrimony between Palliser and Keppel, resulted in their individual courts martial and increased divisiveness in the Navy. Palliser was forced to resign from Parliament and his other posts. The July 1778 Battle of Ushant came about when the British fleet found that it had become located between the French ships and their home ports. Seeing the sudden advantage, Keppel ordered that a battle line be formed and an attack made. Palliser's ship HMS Formidable was badly damaged in the ensuing fray, and when Keppel hoisted the signal to reform the battle line, Palliser's division was some distance away, so a frigate was dispatched to give the instruction. Due to the battle damage, Palliser's division was unable to comply until later in the evening, when it was too late to continue the battle, and the French withdrew to Brest. Both sides later claimed victory, and Keppel issued a dispatch which commended all his officers for their conduct in the action.

     Palliser heard rumours that Keppel had intimated in private conversations that Palliser's absence had been the cause of the inconclusive outcome, so Palliser wrote a paper defending his actions. An anonymous letter to a London newspaper accused Palliser of disobedience in the battle, and he called on Keppel to refute the allegation. When no public refutation was forthcoming, Palliser demanded that a court martial be held to try Keppel on charges of "misconduct and neglect of duty" (which carried a death sentence if proved). Keppel's court martial was held at Portsmouth in January 1779, and he was acquitted after 27 days, the court finding that the charges against him had been brought with malicious intent and were unfounded. The court-martial outcome meant ruin for Palliser. He was defended by Lord Sandwich, but still had to resign from Parliament and as Lieutenant-General of the Marines. He then demanded that a court martial be convened against him so that he could present his version of events during his defence. The court martial was convened, and he was acquitted after 21 days. However, he was censured in that he had failed to inform his superior officer of the battle damage in a timely manner. After his acquittal Palliser hoped to be reinstated in Lt.-General of Marines. Instead, in 1780 he was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital by Lord Sandwich, and was again elected to Parliament for Huntingdon (1780–1784). In 1787 he was promoted to the rank of Admiral

     Palliser was also intimately associated with the famed south Pacific Explorer James Cook. James Cook, a fellow Yorkshireman, first served under Palliser as Master's Mate of HMS Eagle from 1755 to 1758. Palliser supported his elevation to Master in 1757. Both were present at the siege of Quebec where Cook charted the approach to the city and the landing area. Following the Treaty of Paris, Cook was charged with surveying Newfoundland. As Governor, Palliser actively supported Cook’s work and assisted in the publication of his acclaimed map of Newfoundland. During his term as Comptroller, Palliser supported Cook’s first command of exploration in 1768, and his subsequent voyages. Cook named Cape Palliser, Palliser Bay and Palliser Isles after his "worthy friend". On Cook's death, Palliser erected a memorial to Cook on his estate (The Vache).

    This wonderful early 19th century portrait of Admiral Hugh Palliser came to us as a part of a simply amazing archive of 17th 18th and a few 19th century maps, views and portraits related to the French and British colonies in North America. The Archive was put together in the mid 19th century by a Canadian collector and contains many items of great rarity and beauty. All of the items in this archive are exceptionally well preserved with most exhibiting no wear or damage of any kind. There are over 160 items in this archive and we have been offering these rarities over the past few months as part of our regular, weekly eBay auctions.

     This wonderful Engraved Portrait is 100%, unconditionally guaranteed to be an original, 1796 printing and not a restrike, reprint or reproduction. It is in very good to excellent condition - clean and crisp in the image area with some light soiling in the margins. There are no tears, edge chipping, physical damage or repairs of any kind. Overall this is a well preserved and very attractive example of this important Canada / North American related portrait.

     A very rare and beautiful, 1796, Engraved Portrait of the British Naval Officer Hugh Palliser of French & Indian and American Revolutionary War fame, and a fantastic addition to any collection!!

     Be sure to check out this sellers other auctions for other portraits and Views from this amazing Archive which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!!

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