English: ohn Smart

Portrait of William Hickey (1749-1827)

watercolour on ivory ground

William Hickey (1749-1827) is infamous for his witty recollections in his memoirs. Born in London, he was educated at Westminster between 1757 and 1763. He later admitted in his memoirs that he left that school "most deservedly in high disgrace." Leaving school to become little more than a philanderer and scoundrel Hickey was advised by his exasperated father to seek his fortune overseas. Visiting India between 1769 and 1775, Hickey eventually settled there between 1777 and 1808, practicing as an attorney at the Supreme Court of Calcutta.

John Smart had arrived in India on 6th September 1785 and was to remain on that continent until 1795. Settling in Madras, Smart was in great demand amongst the increasingly wealthy English residents. Although William Hickey was based in Calcutta, his memoirs reveal that in late 1790, he travelled to Madras. Hickey stayed in that city for several months and it is presumed that during this time he met John Smart and commissioned this portrait.