About this lot
Description
Circle of Bernard Lens III (1682-1740) Portrait miniature of Sir Robert Beachcroft (1650-1721), Lord Mayor of London watercolour on ivory, oval, in a travelling case with gilt-metal plaque engraved 'Sir Robert/ Beachcroft, / Lord Mayor / City of London, / 1711-1712 / died June 1721.' 4.4cm Provenance: By family descent; Bonhams, London, 24 June 2004, lot 31; Bonhams, London, 21 May 2014, lot 16, when acquired by the late Barry Lock (1934-2021) The sitter was the son of Daniel Beachcroft, a yeoman farmer from Derby, and his wife, Mary Fox. In 1668, he was apprenticed to the London clothworker Thomas Palfreyman and later became a Freeman of the Clothworkers' Company in 1675. Beachcroft established his own business around this time and became a Factor at Blackwell Hall, the centre for trade in cloth from provincial manufacturers and clothiers. He amassed considerable wealth and bought More Hall, the former home of Sir Thomas More. Beachcroft became a Whig Councillor for Tower Ward in 1699-1700, a Sheriff of the City of London and Master of the Clothworkers Company in 1700. On 24th October 1700, he accompanied a number of city merchants to Hampton Court to welcome the return of King William III from the Low Countries. In return for his support, Beachcroft was knighted the same day. In 1703, Sir Robert was elected an Alderman for Lime Street Ward and later served as Lord Mayor of London in 1711. He was also appointed Colonel of the Green Regiment of the City militia between 1707-1710 and was a benefactor to Christchurch and St Thomas' hospitals. This item is offered for sale in accordance with the Ivory Act 2018 and has been assigned an exemption certificate, Ref. No. 3932ZZV8.
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