A late half-length portrait of the highly decorated Sir Charles Bullen, in vice-admiral’s full dress uniform. He is wearing the ribbon and star collar and badge of the GCB and neck badge and star of the KCH. Also present are the Naval Gold Medal for Trafalgar, and the Naval General Service medal 1793-1840 with clasps for Camperdown and 1 June 1794. In his right hand Bullen holds the sword presented to him by the patriotic fund at Lloyds, in recognition of his service at Trafalgar. He joined the navy in 1779 and served as a lieutenant in the ‘Ramillies’ at Lord Howe’s victory on First of June 1794. In 1797 he was first lieutenant on the ‘Monmouth’ at Camperdown where he was promoted commander for his services. In 1804 Lord Northesk asked him to be his flag captain in the ‘Britannia’, and he fought at Trafalgar in this post. During the latter part of the war he commanded frigates in the Mediterranean and was active in harassing the French in Spain. Among his later posts after the war he was Commodore of the West Coast of Africa and captain of the ‘Royal Sovereign’ yacht. The painting is signed and dated ‘A. Grant 1849’.