3-056-872 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Sir Francis Walsingham, c1743-c1751. English statesman and the principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I from 1573 to 1590. He was a skilled diplomat whose knowledge of languages and capacity to organize espionage activities made him invaluable in the execution of Elizabeth's foreign policy. From "The heads and characters of illustrious persons of Great Britain, with their portraits engraven by Mr Houbraken and Mr Vertue. With their lives and characters by T Birch. J & P Knapton". [London, 1743, 51].