A full-length portrait to right wearing vice-admiral's full dress uniform, 1787-95. His hand rests on a cane and he holds his hat in his left hand. He is shown standing on a shore with rocks on the left. The ships with white ensigns at anchor depicted in the right background denote his naval service.

Vernon attended the Royal Naval Academy, Portsmouth, before beginning his active service in 1739. As a lieutenant he served and fought at Toulon in Hawke's ship and in 1759, whilst commanding the 'St Albans', 64 guns, he shared in Boscawen's victory at Lagos during the Seven Years War, 1756-63. In the 70s he was flag-captain to the notorious Vice Admiral Pye, the Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth. From 1775-76 he was Commodore and Commander-in -Chief at the Nore and from then until 1781 held the East Indies command during which time he fought an indecisive action with the French squadron under M. deTronjolly.

Singleton was an English painter and illustrator. Brought up by his uncle, the miniature painter William Singleton. In 1782 he entered the Royal Academy Schools in London and in 1784 won a silver medal for a drawing from life, exhibiting at the Royal Academy for the first time the same year. In 1793 Singleton was commissioned by the Royal Academy to paint the group portrait 'The Royal Academicians Assembled in their Council Chamber'. He was noted for his paintings inspired by the Bible and from literary sources and many of his works were engraved in mezzotint and achieved a widespread popularity. He also painted portraits and his later works were often intended solely for engraving.