Frederick North (1732–1792), 2nd Earl of Guilford

Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford—better known as Lord North—served as Prime Minister from 1770 to 1782 during the American Revolutionary War, presiding over the policies that led to independence and the loss of the colonies. North was a loyal servant of George III whose long ministry combined genuine administrative competence with the political miscalculation of the colonial crisis. Dance's portrait, painted around 1773 when North was at the height of his power but already facing growing American opposition, captures the Prime Minister before the catastrophe that would define his historical reputation. The National Portrait Gallery holds this among the canonical portraits of Georgian statesmanship.

Dance captures the Prime Minister with the weary dignity of a man burdened by political responsibilities, the corpulent figure and heavy features rendered with unflinching directness. The muted palette suits the sober character of political portraiture.