A half-length portrait, very slightly to the left, showing Affleck in his rear-admiral’s dress uniform of the 1787–95 pattern and wearing a grey tie wig; his right hand is thrust into his waistcoat. This painting is a copy of a lost original, possibly by Lemuel Francis Abbott (painted 1793–95). Philip Affleck began his life at sea in the service of the East India Company before transferring to the Navy, where he was made lieutenant by Admiral Boscawen in 1755. He was promoted commander on 1 August 1758 and served with Boscawen in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to command of Boscawen’s flagship the 90-gun ‘Namur’ and then to the 60-gun ‘Panther’, serving in India. Further commands followed. Affleck’s brother Edward was also in the Navy and the Earl of Sandwich thought them ‘Very respectable and thoroughly right headed’. He saw service in the West Indies with Rodney during the War of American Independence. He was appointed rear-admiral on 24 September 1787 and was made commander-in-chief of the Jamaica station in 1790. Upon his return home, he was then made vice-admiral of the blue on 1 February 1793, was appointed to the Admiralty and became vice-president of the Marine Society. He retired in 1796, eventually attaining the rank of admiral of the white.