When and why did the English 'acquire' the image of being reserved?

by woodcutte

In his annotations to Jane Austen's work Dr David Shapard notes that the image of the English as being reserved and models of emotional composure was an acquired trait only appearing first in the 18th century. Prior to that time they were not described by themselves or others in that way. Why did the English want to affect this image?

sopadepanda321

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4abo70/what_is_the_origin_of_the_british_stiff_upper_lip/

This links to two great answers by /u/skedaddle and /u/banal_penetration, although I don't mean this to be definitive at all.