John Downman 1750-1824

The sitter was the second son of William Cowper, Clerk of the Parliaments (d.1740) and the first cousin of William Cowper, the poet.  His elder brother, Major William Cowper, married Maria Frances Madan, of whom a portrait by Hoare of Bath was offered for sale in these Rooms on 1st July 2004, lot 133.  Spencer Cowper was in the Guards, commanded a brigade in the American war, became Lieutenant-governor of Tynmouth, and died at Ham, Surrey on 13th March 1797.

A portrait painted by Joseph Highgrove in 1739 of Spencer Cowper as a boy was sold at Christie's on 16th November 1779, lot 149.  On 22nd December 1780, Cowper paid Romney 18 guineas for a portrait of his own son, George, before he travelled to the West Indies (Anonymous sale at Christie's, 24th November 1998, lot 42)