concept

A quack doctor offering a gouty John Bull some medicine while conventional doctors are turned away; referring to British politics. Coloured lithograph attributed to J. Doyle.

John Bull as the patient of promotors of competing therapies; representing British parliamentary reform. Aquatint by S. de Wilde, 1809.

A dentist giving John Bull a penny after extracting a tooth; representing the effects of income tax on Great Britain. Wood engraving, 1861.

A man personifying Canada is showing a fleet of ships to John Bull. Drawing by A.G. Racey, 191-.

George, Prince Regent, in uniform holding out a swollen hand which is supported by Wellington; representing the enormous amount of money given to the army compared with the navy. Coloured lithograph, 1816.

A young English woman returning from Paris with her French governesss is not recognized by her uncle, aunt and sister owing to her French speech and clothes. Etching by George Cruikshank after EHL.

A small man representing the press is holding a spoon with a gooseberry on it and feeding it to John Bull; representing worthless news stories in the British press during the summer. Process print after Ricardo Brook.

John Bull about to be bled by three doctors; representing Britain's budget manipulated by the cabinet. Coloured etching by J. Phillips?, 1830.

A bear wearing a spiked helmet and a gun is walking over a bridge marked "Protocol" which is supported by rulers of different countries. Drawing by M.C.P. (?), 12 July 1877.

A gouty patient having his pulse taken by a doctor; representing George IV's opposition to Catholic emancipation, and Wellington's support of it. Coloured etching by T. Jones, 1829.

The Prince Regent presenting to political ministers the expected baby of Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, who urinates in their faces; representing the burden of taxation required by the Royal family. Coloured etching by G. Cruikshank, 1816.

John Bull making hop-tea in front of a hop grower and his workers; representing adulteration of beer by brewers. Chromolithograph by T. Merry, 1890, after himself.

Shop

Library

Galleries and Reading Room

Café

We currently have intermittent technical problems with our search. We hope to resolve this soon.

We’re undertaking some research with website visitors to learn more about how people find access-related information provided by museums. This survey shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

Help us organize our website content.

Wellcome uses cookies.

John Bull (Symbolic character)

Images

Catalogue

The Prince Regent presenting to political ministers the expected baby of Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, who urinates in their faces; representing the burden of taxation required by the Royal family. Coloured etching by G. Cruikshank, 1816.

A gouty patient having his pulse taken by a doctor; representing George IV's opposition to Catholic emancipation, and Wellington's support of it. Coloured etching by T. Jones, 1829.

A man personifying Canada is showing a fleet of ships to John Bull. Drawing by A.G. Racey, 191-.

John Bull making hop-tea in front of a hop grower and his workers; representing adulteration of beer by brewers. Chromolithograph by T. Merry, 1890, after himself.

John Bull about to be bled by three doctors; representing Britain's budget manipulated by the cabinet. Coloured etching by J. Phillips?, 1830.