Andrew Plimer 1763-1837

he with dark hair, wearing a lace-edged brown coat; a black hat under his arm, she with short brown hair, wearing a white muslin gown, sky background, gold frame, blue glass reverse with glazed reserve.

The present lot depicts Spencer Joshua Alywne, later 2^nd Marquess of Northampton (1790-1851) and his sister Lady Frances Elizabeth Compton, later Mrs Charles Scrase-Dickins (c. 1792-1883). Born two of six children they were brought up at Erlestoke Park, Wiltshire. In later years the Marquess, seen here are as a boy of five or six, became an important patron of science and the arts. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge he studied mathematics. He was subsequently to receive two honorary degrees (LLD, Cambridge, in 1835, and DCL, Oxford, in 1850).

In 1812 he was elected M.P for Northampton and remained there until he lost the seat in the general election of 1820. He married Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane in 1815 and following the 1820 election he moved with his wife to Italy. On 24 May 1828 while on the continent he succeeded his father as Marquess of Northampton and returned to England.  Besides his success as an M.P he also achieved in other fields, becoming president of the Royal Society of Literature in 1849 and President of the Architectural Society of the Archdeaconry of Northampton. He was also twice president of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (in 1845–6 and in 1850–51). Perhaps his most notable appointment occurred in 1838 when he was elected President of the Royal Society of London. An office he held until his resignation in 1848.