Scottish painter Allan Ramsay was born on 13 October 1713

Scottish painter Allan Ramsay was born on 13 October 1713 in Edinburgh. Ramsay's father was the poet Allan Ramsay who wrote The Gentle Shepherd. After studying in London, Allan Ramsay travelled to mainland Europe, working in Rome and Naples, before returning to Scotland to make a living as a portrait painter.

Ramsay's home life was touched with tragedy - none of his three children survived childhood and his wife Anne Bayne died in 1743 whilst giving birth to their third child. He later eloped with Margaret Lindsay, one of his pupils, whom he later married.

Among Ramsay's best known works are portraits of David Hume, King George III and a portrait of the Duke of Argyll, which was later used on Scottish banknotes. Ramsay's own self portrait is shown here.

Ramsay died on 10 August 1784 at the age of 70.