Lot 69: Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Sir

Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Sir Robert King, later 1st (and last) Baron Kingsborough Three-quarter length standing, in red coat embroidered waistcoat, with sword, and holding a tricorn hat Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cm In a fine carved giltwood rococo frame of the period Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.108 ú75 "Dining Room" as Sir Edward King, 1st Earl Kingston Provenance: Rockingham House Robert King 1724-1755 M.P. for Boyle succeeding Richard Wingfield, succeeded as 4th baronet in 1740 and was made Baron Kingsborough at the age of 23 in 13/06/1748, having fought a notorious duel with Captain Johnston. He borrowed the large sum of ú40,000, became Grand Master of the Freemasons, set the family up in Henrietta Street and lived with a mistress, Mrs. Jones. He died unmarried and his will was bitterly contested by his surviving brothers as far as the House of Lords in London, Edward claimed that Kingsborough was subjected to undue influence by Mrs. Jones, a common prostitute, and that the will was witnessed by a drunken porter and a Swiss servant, all such being scoundrels.