18th-century satire: displaying political cartoons at Kew Palace

We have a fantastic collection of political cartoons at Historic Royal Palaces. Many were bought from Kenneth Baker the politician who is a great collector. All the cartoons in our collection cover the life of George III, 1760 to 1820, so it makes sense to display them at Kew Palace, which was his home.

In the early 18th century there was in Britain an amazing freedom of the press. More newspapers were being printed than ever before. Cartoons and caricatures could be cheaply produced and easily distributed, and this led to a golden age of political satire. We have in our collection works by some of the most respected satirists of the day, such as James Gillray, Richard Newton and William Hogarth. A picture being worth a thousand words, some of the cartoons in our collections can be truly harsh and funny at the same time.

'Nibbling a Thin Slice of Single Gloucester', 1798

The cartoon above is called Nibbling a Thin Slice of Single Gloucester, dating from March 1798. It refers to the Duke of Gloucester, brother to George III, who the press referred to as a 'sickly, knock-kneed nonentity'. The daughters of the King gave Gloucester the nickname of 'slice' as he was so thin. This cartoon came after the revelation that he was having an affair with Lady Almeria Carpenter, his wife's lady-in-waiting, known for her looks. The Duke had been estranged from his brother the King since his secret marriage to Maria, Dowager Countess Waldegrave in 1766.

Image: 'Nibbling a Thin Slice of Single Gloucester'. William Henry, Duke of Gloucester is embraced by his mistress Lady Almeria Carpenter. © Historic Royal Palaces

'A Couple of Humbugs', 1818

This cartoon is called A Couple of Humbugs from May 1818, and refers to the late marriage of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of George III, who married at the age of 48 to Prince Frederick of Hesse-Homberg. The press didn't like him; they called him fat, said he stank of pipe tobacco and called him by the nickname 'humbug'.

Image: 'A Couple of Humbugs'. Princess Elizabeth and her new husband Prince Frederick of Hesse-Homburg. © Historic Royal Palaces

'A Blow Up at Breakfast', 1792

Last is a cartoon called A Blow Up at Breakfast. On the 9 May 1792, the lobby of the House of Commons was filled with smoke; there was fear of a conspiracy to blow up the house. (You have to remember that this was 1792, a few years after the period when over the water the French were busy putting an end to their monarchy!) The cause of the fire was a pair of smouldering breeches that had been thrust into a cupboard. Richard Newton, the cartoonist, mocks the event by suggesting that it was the King's breeches that were a target.

Image: 'A Blow Up at Breakfast'. George III leaps from his chair, his breeches aflame. Queen Charlotte looks up in alarm. Newton's print references an incident at the House of Commons on 9 May 1792. © Historic Royal Palaces