William McParlin

Description

Watercolor on ivory miniature portrait painting of "William McParlin" (1780-1850), October 13, 1807, by David Boudon. McParlin (originally McFarland) was born in Loughbrickland, County Down, Ireland. He emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, leaving behind his mother and sister, with two brothers to work and make money. In 1799, McParlin began working in Annapolis, Maryland, as an apprentice jeweler and watchmaker in the shop of silversmith William Faris (1728-1804). Faris's son Charles, a partner in the business, died in 1800, and the owner himself in 1804. Thus, the business passed to McParlin. In 1807, he sat for miniature painter David Boudon (1748-1816) of Geneva, Switzerland in Annapolis. In 1816, he married Cassandra Hilleary Beall Woodward McParlin (1800-1865) of Prince George's County, niece of William Faris' widow, and the couple had six children. During the War of 1812, McParlin served as a sergeant in an artillery company, Maryland Militia, under the command of William Pinkney (1764-1822). At the time of his death McParlin owned several slaves as well as the Faris business and home in Annapolis. The McParlin descendants continued to live in the home on West Street until it was destroyed ca. 1922-1923. This miniature is one about fifty known works by Boudon, and one of four in the collection at the Maryland Center for History and Culture.