James Harris was a leading diplomat of late eighteenth century, deployed in Madrid, Berlin, The Hague and France. His skill with languages, charm, cunning and striking appearance made him an adroit political operator and particularly gifted at ingratiating himself in every capital in which he served. The notoriously crafty French statesman, Talleyrand described him as 'the cleverest minister of his age'.[1]

Son of James Harris (1709–1780), MP and philosopher[2], and his wife, Elizabeth Clarke of Sandford, Somerset, Harris was educated at Winchester College before studying at Merton College, Oxford. It was at Oxford that he first met William Eden and Charles James Fox, whom he would support in his quieter career in domestic politics.

Harris also spent a year at University of Leiden in Netherlands where he learnt Dutch, studied European history and international relations. There he ingratiated himself with society of The Hague and Amsterdam, becoming friends with the British ambassador, Sir Joseph Yorke. He would also, unfashionably, focus his grand tour on northern Europe.

Harris began his diplomatic career as secretary of embassy to British ambassador in Madrid 1767-69, and appointed chargé d'affaires at the age of twenty-three after the departure of the ambassador in 1769. He inadvertently impressed his superiors when he lagged behind the evacuation during a crisis in Anglo-Bourbon relations in 1770-71, not out of duty but in pursuit of a local lady. Harris was subsequently promoted: first as minister-plenipotentiary in Madrid (1771–2) and then as appointed envoy-extraordinary in Berlin in 1772.

Shortly after arriving in Berlin, at the age of 25, Harris distinguished himself by discovering the intention of Frederick the Great and his ally, Russia to partition Poland. However, Harris was unable to build on this success in the four years that followed. Despite winning esteem at the Prussian court he was unable to improve relations with the Prussians and returned to England in 1776.

Harris married on his return from Berlin, the youngest daughter of MP Sir George Amyand (1720-1766), Harriet Maria (1761-1830). The newlyweds did not stay put for long, and a few months after the wedding, Harris was sent to St Petersburg, taking his new young wife with him.

Harris had a similarly frustrating time as envoy-extraordinary in Russia. There, his mission was led somewhat awry by Grigory Potemkin (1739-1791), Catherine II’s favourite, with whom he became friendly but who manipulated him for his own ends.[3] Harris had some success when was able to discover a secret Russo-Austrian alliance through skilful bribery in 1781. He was also made Knight of the Bath during his time in Russia, but, despite getting on well with the Empress, he was ultimately unable to bring about a long-desired Russian alliance.

Still only a young man, Harris had considerable diplomatic experience and seniority by the time he returned from Russia in 1783. He was soon given his next appointment: envoy-extraordinary and plenipotentiary to The Hague. Harris returned to the city of his alma mater in 1784 as Britain’s leading diplomat. His arrival coincided with a pivotal moment following the fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780-84), with an increasingly fraught (backed by France) patriotic movement threatening the stadtholder of the Dutch republic, William V, Prince of Orange (1748–1806). Through various manoeuvres and the Prussian army’s involvement in 1787, Harris was able to help restore authority. A renewed Anglo-Dutch alliance followed in 1788, which was converted into a triple alliance through the conclusion of a separate treaty with Prussia.

A promotion to ambassador followed for Harris in 1788 and as well as a title when he was created Baron Malmesbury (later earl). He returned from the Hague later the same year.

Revolutionary France dominated Harris’s later career with brief deployments in Berling and The Hague 1793-94 to rouse an anti-French coalition. He was sent on peace missions to France in 1796-97, but it quickly became apparent that no settlement could be achieved.  

Another important mission at this time was the marriage negotiations for the then Prince of Wales, later George IV (1762-1830). In 1794, Harris was sent to Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, to solicit the hand of the duke's daughter, Princess Caroline (1768–1821) and the following year, escorted her to England. The marriage was ill-fated however and the couple almost immediately loathed one another. Harris had reservations about Caroline’s suitability from the first, concerned by her uncouth manners and lack of hygiene.[4] On meeting for the first time, George famously asked for a glass of brandy, and Caroline remarked to Harris, “[the Prince is] very fat and he's nothing like as handsome as his portrait.”[5]

Harris’s involvement in domestic politics was much less eventful, his diplomatic career taking precedence. Nevertheless he followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming MP for Christchurch, Dorset in 1770–74 and again in 1780–88, but only attended the House of Commons once.

Towards the end of the 1790s, increasing deafness and ill health meant that Harris was not set on any further diplomatic trips. He remained influential, advising on foreign policy and mentoring two future Prime Ministers: George Canning (1770-1827) and Lord Palmerston (1784–1865). He was created Earl in 1800 and named Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire in 1807, an office he held for the rest of his life.

Harris divided his final years between Henley and London, where he died in 1820. He was buried in Salisbury Cathedral. 

The present portrait miniature by William Grimaldi is taken from a 1786 portrait by Reynolds in the collection of the Earl of Malmesbury. Grimaldi often made miniature versions of larger oil paintings. His style could be loose and painterly, lending itself to emulating the works of Reynolds, John Hoppner, William Beechey and others. Grimaldi was also adept at working on a larger scale on ivory and many of these miniatures – including the present work - measure 9cm or more in height, including the present work. Multiple examples can be found in the Royal Collection, including a copy of Reynolds’s 1788 self-portrait (RCIN 420828).[6]

This miniature was painted the same year he painted Prince William Frederick (1776-1834) and was appointed miniature painter to the Duke and Duchess of York (1791). He was later painter to George III and George IV when Prince of Wales in 1806, and again as king in 1824.

[1] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online, accessed 18 April 2024

[2] The author of Hermes, a philosophical inquiry concerning universal grammar (1751).

[3] ONDB, accessed 18 April 2024

[4] ONDB, accessed 18 April 2024

[5] Malmesbury's diary quoted in Robins, Jane, Rebel Queen: The Trial of Queen Caroline. Simon & Schuster), 2006, p.16, and in the original French in Plowden, Alison, Caroline and Charlotte: Regency Scandals 1795–1821 (Sutton Publishing), 2005, p. 23, via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_of_Brunswick

[6] An example comparable with the present miniature is that of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 2nd Earl of Rawdon & 1st Marquess of Hastings (1754-1836), signed and dated 1792 (RCIN 420858). https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/9/collection/420858/francis-rawdon-hastings-2nd-earl-of-rawdon-1st-marquess-of-hastings-1754-1836