97 - STAUNTON, George Thomas

Sir George Thomas Staunton, Second Baronet, led a life that is one of the best documented of all nineteenth century translators due to his title, his involvement with the first two British embassies to China, and his political career. This portrait was completed circa 1820, shortly after he had returned permanently to England after almost two decades of service in the East India Company’s Canton factory, where he had produced his magisterial translation of the Chinese Penal Code.

At the age of twelve, Staunton voyaged with his father, Sir George Leonard Staunton, as part of Lord Macartney’s mission to China (1792–1794). This painting was done shortly before his departure; he is holding his mother Lady Jane Staunton’s hand. The Chinese man standing behind him is likely the man employed to teach Staunton Chinese before and during the long voyage.

An interesting detail is that Lady Staunton is holding what appears to be a letter in her hand and at the left side of the painting we see her writing desk with other letters on it. This is prescient in light of the fact that we know Staunton wrote a stream of correspondence to his mother, first during the embassy and then during the long years of service in the East India Company. Many of the letters are preserved, along with his diaries from the voyage, at Duke University’s special collections. Unfortunately, although his mother saved all his letters, Sir George was more careless with hers; to the best of my knowledge none survive.

In a world where the fastest means of communication over land was on horseback and over water by sailing ships, letter-writing was a vital means of establishing and maintaining social networks.