A three-quarter-length portrait of George Anson (1697–1762) in flag officer’s full-dress uniform, 1748–1767, with his hat under his arm. Anson rests his left hand on the fluke of an anchor and stands in front of a rocky cliffy, partly overgrown with foliage, with a ship in distance. Lettered beneath the image with Anson’s coat of arms and the title: ‘The Rt. Honble George Lord Anson Baron of Soberton. First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Vice-Admiral of Great Britain, Admiral of the Blue Squadron, & one of his Majesty’s most Honble Privy Council.’ Also lettered with the publication details: ‘J. Reynolds Pinxt. J. Macardell fecit. Published Aug. 8th 1821 by Richard H. Laurie, No. 53, Fleet Street, London.’ This portrait was engraved by James Macardell in 1755 after an original painting by Joshua Reynolds and republished by Richard Holmes Laurie in 1821. George Anson (1697–1762) was the most experienced sailor of his age. He circumnavigated the globe in HMS 'Centurion' between 1740 and 1744. He was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1751 to 1756 and from 1757 to 1762. During this time he was largely responsible for building a more professional navy, introducing reforms to the dockyards, updating the Articles of War — which details the professional codes and expectations of the Navy — and starting the Corps of Marines.