White enamel and high carat gold George II mourning ring for diplomat,Knight of the Bath and Whig politician Sir Paul Methuen dated 1757.
The script reads ‘Rt HON:Sr Pl Methuen K:B:Ob 11 Ap:1757:AE:85’.
Size 7.5.
Sir Paul Methuen PC KB (1672 – 11 April 1757),was an English diplomat and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1708 and 1747. He was an envoy to Portugal between 1697 and 1708 and later a holder of public offices, particularly in the Royal household.
Sir Paul enjoyed a privileged position and travelled extensively throughout Europe. He came to appreciate the fine paintings of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries and was inspired to piece together his own collection. Italian masters, Flemish, Dutch and French paintings were bought by him (mainly at auction from 1720 onwards) and hung in his house in Grosvenor Street, London.
Sir Paul died in 1757 and, never having married, had bequeathed all of his treasures to his cousin and godchild, Paul Methuen. It was Paul who acquired Corsham House in 1745 with a view to better displaying the magnificent art collection there.
Methuen  was buried in the south aisle of Westminster Abbey, near his father John. The memorial, of white and coloured marbles, is by the sculptor Michael Rysbrack and is in a window bay of the south choir aisle.
His bust by Peter Scheemakers is in the family home of Corsham Court in Wiltshire.
Methuen, Massachusetts, was named after him.