Author: RAMSAY, Allan
Biography:
RAMSAY, Allan (1713-84: ODNB)
Born at Edinburgh, he was the son of Allan Ramsay (q.v.) and his wife Christian Ross. He was educated at the Edinburgh High School. His aptitude for drawing was evident from an early age and he attended the Academy of St Luke in Edinburgh before going to London in 1732 to study with Hans Hysing. Subsequently he enjoyed a highly successful career as a portraitist in both Edinburgh and London. Beginning in the 1760s he undertook numerous portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte. He was twice married: in 1739 to Anne Bayne who died in 1743 during the birth of their third child, and in 1752 to Margaret Lindsay (d 1782) with whom he had three surviving children. An injury to his right arm effectively ended his career in 1773. Ramsay spent time in Italy on several occasions and in later life was preoccupied with the location of Horace’s Sabine villa. During his final visit he was persuaded by Robert Merry (q.v.) at Florence to contribute verses to The Arno Miscellany. He died at Dover on his return to England and was buried at St Marylebone Church. (ODNB 8 Mar. 2021)