Richard, Earl Howe (1726-99) is wearing naval undress (ordinary, rather than ceremonial) uniform. This miniature is a copy of John Singleton Copley's portrait of Lord Howe painted in 1794 and now in the National Maritime Museum, London. Howe was alleged to have been descended from George I, whose profile his strongly resembled.

Richard Howe first went to sea as a boy of nine in 1735, and pursued a career in the navy. His courage was greatly admired – when he bombarded the fort on the Isle d'Aix in 1756 from a range of 60 yards, he slowly approached through French gunfire, making his crew lie down on the deck so that only he and the pilot were standing. By 1794, he was Admiral of the Fleet and victor of the 'Glorious First of June', the naval battle against the French. Nelson attributed the victory of the Nile largely to Howe's improved signalling system. A friend wrote that 'There was a shyness and awkwardness in Lord Howe's manner which made him apparently difficult of approach, and gave him a character of austerity which did not belong to him'.

Edward Miles (1752-1828) was born at Yarmouth in Norfolk. He became an errand boy to a surgeon who encouraged him in drawing. In 1771, he went to London and entered the Royal Academy Schools. He was appointed Miniature Painter to the Duchess of York in 1792 and to Queen Charlotte in 1794. He was Court Painter to the Tsar in St Petersburg from1797 to 1806. He finally settled in Philadelphia, where he became a founder member of the Academy.

Inscribed on the back in pencil: after Copley.