At the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 Wright was flag captain in the ‘Duke’ to Rear-Admiral Carter, who was killed in the action. He fought at La Hogue a few days later and continued to serve afloat until the accession of Queen Anne when he became a commissioner at the Victualling Office. The following year he went as commissioner at Plymouth, and later at Lisbon. He returned to his original office in 1708, but was dismissed for ‘irregularities and improper conduct’ three years later. He is shown wearing a blue coat with gold laced buttonholes and a light brown full-bottomed wig. In his left hand he holds a pair of dividers over a celestial globe. In the right background there is a ship. There is a later inscription: ‘WILLIAM WRIGHT Esq./ A commissioner of His Majesty’s Navy/ Father of ELIZABETH MORRIS/ B.1665 D.1735’.