ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈaɪv hiː wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd ðə fˈɜːst pɹˈɛzɪdənt ʌvðə səsˈaɪəɾi fɚðɪ ɛŋkˈɜːɹɪdʒmənt ʌv ˈɑːɹts, mˌænjuːfˈæktʃɚz ænd kˈɑːmɜːs nˈaʊ ðə ɹˈɔɪəl səsˈaɪəɾi ʌv ˈɑːɹts.
In 1755 he was elected the first president of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (now the Royal Society of Arts).