A three-quarter-length portrait of Edward Vernon (1684–1757) in a dark coat, tucking right hand in his waistcoat and grasping the hilt of his sword in his left. He stands beside a cannon with a rocky cliff behind him and a naval engagement in the background. Lettered beneath the image with the title, ‘Admiral Vernon’, and the production details, ‘T. Gainsborough Pinxt. / Js. McArdell fecit.’ This portrait was engraved by James Macardell after an oil painting by Thomas Gainsborough, a version of which is now in the National Portrait Gallery. Gainsborough produced two versions of the original painting in his studio at Ipswich and both were finished by 1753. Vernon owned an estate at Nacton, near Ipswich, and sat as MP for Ipswich from 1741 until his death in 1756. As naval officer, he had gained public popularity through his vocal opposed to the Walpole ministry and his successful capture of Porto Bello from the Spanish with only six ships in November 1739. However, after a disagreement with the Admiralty in 1746, he was struck off the flag officers’ list. He is now best remembered for ordering in 1740 that his men’s rum rations should be diluted with water and lemon juice for health reasons. This ‘grog’ – Vernon’s nickname – became the standard way of serving the naval rum ration until it was abolished in 1970. (Updated May 2019.)