Mason Chamberlin (1727–1787) 

• Was an English portrait painter.

• Chamberlin was a pupil of Francis Hayman.

• In 1768 he was one of the founding members of the Royal Academy.

• He exhibited 50 portraits at the academy between 1769 and 1786.

• He also showed 22 works at the Society of Artists and two at the Free Society of Artists.

• His address is given as 7, Stuart Street, Spitalfields in the Academy catalogues and from 1785 as 10, Bartlett's Buildings.

• He is perhaps best known for a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, commissioned by wealthy Virginian landowner and friend of Franklin's in London, Colonel Philip Ludwell III, and painted from life in 1762.

• Franklin's son William ordered 100 copies to sell in America, 18 of which Franklin distributed himself, mostly to friends in New England.

• Mason died at Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn, on 20 January 1787.

• His son, also called Mason, was a prolific painter.

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