A three-quarter-length portrait of Edward Vernon (1684–1757) with a dark wig and a long coat, holding his sword in his left hand and resting his right hand on the barrel of a cannon. He stands in front of a tree on the left and a naval engagement on the right. Lettered beneath the image with the title: ‘The Honble. Edward Vernon Esqr. Vice Admiral of the Blue, And Commander in Chief of all his Majesties Ships in the West Indies.’ Also lettered with the publication details: ‘Richards pinxit. / Iohnson Fecit. / Sold by T. Bakewell next ye Horn Tavern Fleet Street.’ This print is based on a substantially reworking of an old plate. The plate was originally engraved by John Faber the Younger in 1718 (see PAD4610) after Godfrey Kneller’s portrait of George Byng, painted in 1707–9 (see BHC2589). In about 1740, the inscription and the sitter’s head were changed to represent Edward Vernon. Initially, the rest of the plate was left untouched (see PAF3396) but it was subsequently reworked more substantially to create this print. Changes were made to the sitter’s costume, giving him a frock coat instead of an armoured breastplate, and to the plinth beside him, which was changed into a cannon. A turreted building has been added in the background. These changes may have been made by the draughtsman ‘Richards’ and the engraver ‘Johnson’, whose names were added to the plate, obliterating the names of Kneller and Faber. This version of the print was published by Thomas Bakewell. It dates from around 1740. In July 1739, Vernon was promoted vice-admiral of the blue and commander-in-chief in the West Indies. In this role, he successfully captured Porto Bello from the Spanish in November 1739 with only six ships. Coupled with Vernon’s vocal opposition to the Walpole ministry, this triumph gained him significant public popularity. Many portrait prints were published at this time to capitalise upon his fame. (Updated May 2019.)