Lord Lake is wearing a General's uniform. His buttons have a crossed sword and baton. Although he does not have a hat in this miniature, Lord Lake's features are identical to those in the painting The Battle of Laswari (1803) by George Place, now in the Oriental Club, London, showing the General with his horse shot under him and his son offering his own as a replacement. Lord Lake was Commander-in-Chief in India from 1800 to 1805 and was created Baron Lake of Delhi and Laswari in 1804, and Viscount in 1807. He was a friend of the Prince of Wales and his First Equerry for nearly 30 years.

George Place (c. 1760-1805) was the son of a Dublin linen draper, entered the Dublin Society Schools in 1775 and went to London in 1791. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1791 to 1797. In 1798 he travelled to Bengal, India, with his wife and then established himself in Lucknow. He is said to have received between £5,000 to £6,000 from the Nawab (Viceroy) to paint pictures of him and his court. Place died in Lucknow in 1805.

A piece of paper preserved with the miniature is inscribed by the Marquess of Wellesley in ink: 'General (afterwards) Lord Viscount Lake, Commander in Chief of the British Forces in India, took Delhi, Agra (with the famous Taj Mahle) & rescued Schah Aulam the Great Mogul, from the Power of the Mahrattahs. Wellesley.'