Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chandler, J. W.
CHANDLER, J. W. (fl. 1800), portrait painter, a natural son of Lord Warwick, worked in London towards the end of the last century. About 1800 he was invited to Aberdeenshire, where he painted a good many portraits. Afterwards he settled in Edinburgh. He indulged freethinking speculations, was melancholic, and attempted to kill himself. He was unsuccessful, however, and died under confinement 'about 1804-5,' being then less than thirty years old. He was considered a promising painter. From 1787 to 1791 he exhibited ten portraits at the Royal Academy. A portrait by Chandler of Lord St. Helens was engraved in mezzotint by William Ward, A.R.A. 'His works are little known, and such as may be seen are stiff, weakly painted, and do not sustain the character of talent.'
[Redgrave's Dict. of Eng. School ; Graves's Dict. of Artists.]