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1785 Engraved Portrait of British Army General G.A. Eliott

July 15, 1785-Dated, Engraved Portrait of British General Eliott, Historic Revolutionary War Era Military Figure, Published by J. Fielding, London, 1785, Choice Crisp Mint.

Original Engraved Print measuring 7.5" x 4.5", a Plate or Frontispiece from a period British magazine. George Augustus Eliott (1717 - 1790), was a British Army General who commanded the Gibraltar garrison during the "Great Siege of Gibraltar" (1779 - 1783). He took served in three major wars during the eighteenth century. He rose to distinction during the Seven Years War when he fought in Germany and participated in the British attacks on Belle le and Cuba. Elliott is most notable for his command of the Gibraltar garrison during the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasted between 1779 and 1783 during the American War of Independence. He was celebrated for his successful defense of the fortress. A beautiful quality, engraved portrait of British General Eliott.

Additional Information:

Eliott served as ADC to King George II between 1756 and 1759. On 10 March 1759, he raised, and was appointed colonel of, the 1st Light Horse (later 15th Light Dragoons, then 15th Hussars), and he distinguished himself in the German campaign, particularly during the Battle of Minden in 1759 and the 1760 Battle of Emsdorf.

He was promoted to Major-General in 1759 and took part in the British expedition against Cuba in 1762, being 2nd-in-charge at the capture of Havana during the final year of the conflict for which he received a significant amount of prize money.

[edit] PeaceHe was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1765, antedated to 1761. With his share of the prize money from the Havana expedition, Eliott purchased Bayley Park, a country house in the village of Heathfield, Sussex, from which he later took his title. (After his death, Bayley Park was renamed Heathfield Park.)

His wife died on 22 October 1772. From 1774 until 1775 he was C-in-C Ireland, Governor of Londonderry and Culmore. On 6 March 1775, he became a Privy Counsellor, and on 25 May 1777 he was appointed Governor of Gibraltar, succeeding Robert Boyd, the acting Governor. He was promoted to General in 1778. He oversaw a number of improvements to the defences of Gibraltar because of the likelehood of war with Spain. Up until the decleration of war, Elliot and his officers remained on good terms with the local Spanish commander at San Roque.

In July 1779, Gibraltar was besieged by the French and Spanish. By August, it was very apparent that the Spanish intended to starve the garrison. The Great Siege of Gibraltar would eventually last from 1779 to 1783. A notable letter from George to the Misses Fuller survives, dated 21 September 1779 and delivered on 4 October, it said simply "Nothing new. G.A.E."

On 13 September 1782, the French and Spanish initiated a grand attack, involving 100,000 men, 48 ships and 450 cannon. Under great duress, the Garrison held his position and, by 1783, the siege was finishing. On 8 January 1783, the British Parliament sent their official thanks to George Eliott and he was nominated a Knight of the Bath. By 6 February 1783, the siege was over. George was invested with his honour at Gibraltar on 23 April.

A portrait from 1784, "The Siege of Gibralter". (From Wikipedia)

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