Artists > Robert William Sievier > Full Screen Image

ROBERT WILLIAM SIEVIER (1794-1865)

Portrait Bust of Lord Chief Justice Robert Dallas (1756-1824)

Inscribed Chief Jstc. Dallas/ R. W. Sievier/ 1822

White marble

21 in. height

PROVENANCE:

Major Marton of Capernwray, Lancastershire, England

Private Collection, New Jersey

EXHIBITION:

Royal Academy 1823

LITERATURE:

Algernon Graves The Royal Academy of Arts: A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and Their Work From its Foundation in 1769-1904, 1906 Vol. VII page 122

George Smith, The Dictionary of National Biography, 1917 Vol. V pages 396-397

ENGRAVED:

W. Holl 1824

Sir Robert Dallas (1756-1824) was the eldest son of Robert Dallas of Cooper’s Court, St. Michael’s Cornhill, and Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. James Smith, minister of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire. He was born October 16, 1756 and was principally educated in Geneva, Switzerland. Dallas was admitted as a student to Lincoln’s Inn in 1777, and was called to the bar in 1782. He soon obtained a considerable practice in London and the western circuit. In 1783 he made an effective speech as junior counsel on behalf of the East India Company, against Fox’s East India Bill. In 1787 he was selected as one of the three to defend Warren Hastings. During the trial, which lasted seven years, Dallas greatly distinguished himself. It was in 1813, Dallas took his seat on the bench for the first time. He sat on the panel for the trial of the Luddites at Derby in 1817. In 1818, Dallas took his seat as chief justice of the common pleas and became a member of the Privy Council. Dallas sat on the special commission for the trial of the Cato Street conspirators 1820. Dallas resigned from the bench in late 1823 and died December 24, 1824. He was married twice, first Charlotte having two children and then Giustina producing five daughters.

Artists > Robert William Sievier > Full Screen Image