King William III. Crossing the Boyne July 1st 1690.

PrinterPrinted by Kelloggs & Comstock American, 1848 - 1850

PublisherPublished by Kelloggs & Comstock American, 1848 - 1850

PublisherPublished by D. Needham American, 1808 - 1888

Date1848-1850

MediumLithography; printer's ink and watercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 10 1/8 x 9in. (25.7 x 22.9cm)
Sheet (height x width): 14 x 10 1/16in. (35.6 x 25.6cm)

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineGift of Samuel St. John Morgan

DescriptionA man sits astride a rearing white horse, holding a raised sword. He has a plumed hat and shoulder length hair and wears a coat, sash, and boots. The horse's right rear hoof is in the water, the left hoof is on land. In the background, an army with cavalry and foot soldiers is emerging from the river. A sixteen-line poem commemorating the event is beneath the image.

Object number1950.79.0

InscribedOn recto, lithographed title and poem beneath image, "KING WILLIAM III. / CROSSING THE BOYNE JULY 1st 1690. / King William said, 'I don't deserve / The name of faith's defender; / If I do not venture life and limb, / To make a foe surrender." / A bullet from the Irish came, / That grazed the Monarch's arm; / We thought his Majesty was slain, / But it did him little harm. / 'Brave boys,' he said, 'be not dismayed, / For the losing of one commander, / For God will be our King, this day, / And I'll be general, under!' / Then let us all, with heart and hand, / Unite for ever after, / And bless the glorious memory / Of King William that crossed the water."

On verso, in pencil: lower right, "760" "Consv CPC 1987 / DWR 2"; lower left, "Print / Box 6 / #23"; center, "Drawer 29 #11a."NotesSubject Note: William III (1650-1702) led English troops in the Battle of the Boyne, in which the former king of England, James II, was defeated. This battle led to the fall of Ireland, which had welcomed the Catholic King James, and to Protestant England's control of Ireland.

Subject Terms