Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydneyc 1785

by Attributed to Gilbert Stuart

Although many will not have heard of this man, the city of Sydney is named after him. Thomas Townshend was elevated to the peerage with the title of ‘Baron Sydney’ in 1783. As Home Secretary in the British Parliament, he was responsible for devising a plan to settle convicts at Botany Bay in Australia. Baron Sydney chose Captain Arthur Phillip to lead the First Fleet and as Governor, Phillip named Sydney Cove in his honour. The city of Sydney in Nova Scotia, Canada, was also named in his honour.

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Collection Item Type: 
  • Oil on canvas
Call Number: 
DG 214
Published date: 
c 1785
On display: 
Exhibition Galleries
Sponsored by David W Anstice AO and Ana-Maria V Zaugg
Out of copyright: Creator died before 1955 Please acknowledge: Dixson Galleries, State Library of New South Wales
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