The painting depicts the rescue of the crew of the 'Ganges' as it sank off the Cape (lat. 38,22 S. long. 19,50 E.) on the 29 May 1807. The 1,200 ton 'Ganges', built at Wells's Yard first entered service with the East India Company in 1796. The vessel undertook four voyages before its loss while returning from China under the command of Captain T. Talbot Harrington. The vessel took a prominent part in Commodore Dance's action in the Malacca Strait against Admiral Linois's squadron in 1804, an event which took place during its third voyage for the Company. The 818 ton 'Earl Saint Vincent' , under the command of Captain Charles Jones, was also on its fourth voyage for the Company at the time of the sinking, returning to English waters on 10 September 1807, after visiting Bombay. Details of the rescue are given in Thomas Tegg's 'Account of shipwrecks' published 1808.