National Library of Australia - Gateways

ISSN 1443-0568 | no. 75 | June 2005


Pictures Acquisition: Sir George Jackson Portrait

Portrait of Sir George Jackson [between 1743 and 1822]

Portrait of Sir George Jackson [between 1743 and 1822]
watercolour on ivory in metal mounts with glass; oval image 6.9 x 5.7 cm
Pictures Collection, nla.pic-vn3300961

[CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE]

 

The National Library has acquired a stunning miniature watercolour on ivory of Sir George Jackson, after Richard Cosway. Until purchased by the Library at a recent Christie’s of London auction, the miniature had remained by direct descent in the ownership of the Jackson family. Surrounded by a split pearl border, the miniature portrays Jackson, a contemporary of Captain James Cook and Judge Advocate to the British Naval Fleet. This is the man after whom Cook named Port Jackson (Cook also honoured him by naming New Zealand’s Cape Jackson after him).

Cook describes the naming of Port Jackson in his diary entry for May 6, 1770: ‘we steer’d along NNE and at Noon we were by observation in the Latitude of 33˚50’S, about 2 or 3 miles from the Land, and abreast of Bay or Harbour, wherein there apperd to be safe anchorage which I call’d Port Jackson. It lies 3 Leags to the northward of Botany Bay’.

Jackson was instrumental in Cook’s appointment to the command of the Endeavour and promoted Cook’s virtues ahead of the decision by the Lords of the Admiralty. His favourable feelings towards Cook (later to be reciprocated by Cook) were probably influenced by the fact that, as a boy, the navigator had worked as a stable boy for Jackson’s sister at Ayton, Yorkshire.

Jackson enjoyed an illustrious naval career, which began in 1743 and saw him rise to the dual positions of Judge Advocate to the Fleet and Secretary of the Admiralty by 1766. It is generally believed that his early progress was aided by the patronage of his wealthy uncle, Ralph Ward of Guisborough. Apart from his naval duties, Jackson also served as a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (1762–68) and for Colchester (1790–96). In 1791 he was knighted. Twice married, Jackson made the unusual decision of changing his name to Duckett in 1797. Apparently his hand was forced in this matter in order to satisfy the terms of the will of his second wife’s uncle.

By acquiring this important picture, the National Library is helping to ensure that the origins of the name Port Jackson are not lost. A curious aside is the inscription on the back of the portrait. Beginning with Jackson’s titles, it ends with the erroneous information ‘born 1709/died 1798’: an odd lapse to make when representing an esteemed individual who was born in 1725 and died in 1822.
—MICHAEL COOPER, Queensland University of Technology library student

| Contents list for this issue of Gateways |


National Library of Australia Gateways logo