History - Family Portraits
Arthur, sixth Viscount Irwin (1689-1736) by Charles Jervas (c1675-I739), 49½ X 39½ (126 X 100)
The portrait was painted in 1712 when the artist was paid 20 guineas. Arthur was the third son of Arthur, third
Viscount Irwin. He trained for the Bar and became MP for the family's pocket borough of Horsham before
succeeding his brother as sixth Viscount and owner of Temple Newsam in 1721.
At this date the estate was saddled with enormous debts following the South Sea Bubble, but he was able to
obtain a private Act of Parliament for a mortgage over the property amounting to £20,000 (which was only
finally paid off in 1758 as part of the marriage settlement of Frances Shepheard).
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu described him as having 'a great deal of wit joined to a diabolical person'.
He died in Bath, unmarried, in 1736.
Temple Newsam 22.79/48
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