A half-length portrait of Gardner showing him wearing a vice-admiral’s full dress uniform with the chain and medal given to flag officers after the First of June 1794. He saw early action at Quiberon Bay in 1759 and much of his later service was spent on American and West Indian stations. In 1778 while commanding the ‘Maidstone’ at Grenada he captured a large and heavily armed French merchantman. He commanded the ‘Sultan’ at Grenada, 1779 and the ‘Duke’ at the battle of the Saints, 1782. He first attained flag rank when commanding the ‘Queen’ at the First of June 1794. This portrait was painted the following year. Gardner was Commander-in-Chief of the coast of Ireland in 1800 and of the Channel fleet in 1807.