A Thomas Annan photograph of a portrait of John Spreull (1657-1722). The original painting was by Sir Godfrey Kneller.
Spreull was a merchant who fought on the side of the Covenanters at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679 and was imprisoned by the victorious Royalists. He was twice tortured in front of the Duke of York and the Committee of the Privy Council of Scotland. The Duke said that "Mr Spreull was more dangerous than five hundred common people".
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 920.041435 COR
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Battle of Bothwell Bridge, Committee of the Privy Council of Scotland, Covenanters, merchants, non-conformists, paintings, portraits, torture