James Gillray found Lord Rawdon a tempting target. He appears in at least two dozen of Gillray's political cartoons, and while pointed, the portrayals echo the strengths and weaknesses of his real character: loyalty, honor, courage... and gullibility. Here are a couple of my favorites from the batch. He also appears in Westminster Conscripts.

Search Night; Or, State Watchmen Mistaking Honest Men For Conspirators. Published March 20th, 1798. "Some arrests had been made in England in the beginning of March, 1798, of persons implicated in the troubles which were disturbing Ireland, and were the object of severe animadversions by some of the opposition papers. The subject is here made the ground for a satire on the Whigs. Pitt and Dundas, the two State Watchmen, are breaking in upon the conspirators. The two leaders, Fox and Sheridan, make their escape by the cock-loft, while the Dukes of Bedford and Norfolk take to the chimney. Three of the party have sought a refuge under the table. Lord Moira alone stands his ground."1

A Hint to Young Officers (published July 7, 1804) took place during his time as Commander-in-Chief of Scotland. The rhyme at the bottom reads:   "When loud the Watchman cry'd the Hour And call'd till he was hoarse -- "Past Twelve o'Clock!["] Then down the Lord of the Castle came His Aid-de-Camp to meet -- And when his Aid-de-Camp he espied All shivering in the Street -- Thou'rt welcome here, dear Aid-de-Camp The generous Noble said Altho' it is past 12 o'Clock And Servants all in bed Thou'rt welcome here dear Aid-de-Camp Put down your Hat & Coat; Walk in & Sup, we'll make it up, But, don't do so Again!"

"The circumstances alluded to in this plate, is as follows. Lord Moira, who was then Governor of Edinburgh Castle, severely scolded his servant one morning for not calling him in time for review. The man excused himself on the plea that Mr. Tom Sheridan, his lordship's aide-de-camp, never returned home till four or five o'clock in the morning, and that this was the cause of his over-sleeping himself. Lord Moira desired him not to sit up that night, as he would open the door himself. Accordingly, when Sheridan knocked, his lordship opened it. Sheridan felt the rebuke, made many apologies, and promised to be more regular in future."2

Notes:

¹ Commentary from Thomas Wright and R. H. Evans, Historical and Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray, Comprising a Political and Humorous History of the Latter part of the Reign of George the Third (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1851), p120. [ back ]

² Wright and Evans, p472. [ back ]